Microsoft’s barely started down the path of issuing updates for Windows Phone 7—its second is currently underway—but the company is plainly learning from its recent mistakes and being more pro-active about communicating with its customers. Microsoft has launched a new “Where’s my phone update?” site for Windows Phone 7 owners that lets them get some idea when they can expect their software updates to be available. The site breaks down update availability by device in the U.S. market, and by operator in international markets.
Microsoft breaks update rollouts into three phases: “testing” means the update is being qualified by mobile network operators; “Scheduling” means that Microsoft and the operator are working out details of update delivery (Microsoft says this “typically” takes 10 days or less), and “Delivering update” which means the new software is currently being delivered to users.
Windows Phone 7 users in the U.S. will notice a couple of catches. First, no Windows Phone 7 handsets in the U.S. market are currently in the “delivering” phase, although the Dell Venue Pro and HTC HD7 are listed in the “Scheduling” phrase. However, here’s the real catch: even when an update is listed as in delivery, Microsoft warns customers “it might take several weeks before you receive notice that an update is available for you.”
International users have an easier time: a number of providers are already delivering the latest Windows Phone 7 update—in fact, Microsoft lists all its international partners as delivering the update or in the brief “scheduling” phase, with the exceptions of Spain’s Telefonica, Australia’s Telstra, and Deutsche Telekom’s global offering—those three are in “testing.”
The “NoDo” update to Windows Phone 7 brings much-ballyhooed copy-and-paste functionality to Windows Phone 7, along with performance enhancements, Marketplace improvements, and tweaks to how Windows Phone 7 devices manage Wi-Fi profiles, switch camera modes, Facebook and email enhancements, and a number of device-specific tweaks. So far, there are no substantiated reports of the update “bricking” Windows Phone devices: Microsoft’s first attempt to distribute a Windows Phone update didn’t go smoothly for some users.
Now you have your so called bugs worked out, which is cool, that’s the whole ideal for updates, make people feel that you are providing them something that you also feel can be much better and user friendly. The WP7 UI is groundbreaking in my words because most Smartphone’s did not do anything but copy the groundbreaking UI the iPhone brought to Smartphone’s in 2007. But for iPhone they have pushed that same look and launch style UI since then, which will now bring them to 4 years of never updating their UI then charge $500+ dollars for features that again were possible for WM5.0,6.0,6.5. Yet their app type style broke ground giving developers a way to market their skills in app creation where WM lacked.
Lastly, WP7 will catch up. You can also take that out of your content as well, bogus to even think they want. Currently, WP7 has the best UI Smartphone experience than any Smartphone out there and this will be the battle in the near future, UI vs. UI (soon there will be whack blogs about this as well). But, as for now Microsoft, Steve, whom ever is reading my post, for there not to be a fast paste to at least release the update to first come consumers who stood in line (if any), waited long and longer times for Microsoft to even say they will produce a Smartphone way back when it was supposedly the "Zune Phone", carried a Window Mobile phone prior to WP7, or just didn't like the iPhone or Android but purchased a Windows Phone 7, WHY.
I own the Samsung Focus on At&t and I have yet received any pushed notification on my phone or when connected to Zune. This is annoying, it's not fair, yet I am still being loyal to Microsoft. So why do I comment on this, because I feel there are plenty others that don't reply or comment will at least appreciate that they are not alone.
I am a diehard Windows Phone user. I have been using windows mobile previous to WP7. One thing that annoys me so much is that bloggers, writers, est., do so much talk about this copy and paste deal like windows never had the feature ever.
First of all the iPhone and Android did not do anything special by adding copy and paste to their phones. iPhone did not have it when it first released back in 2007, yet Windows Mobile 5.0, 6.0, and 6.5 had it and there was no big talk about it then. so, can we please get off this copy and paste deal like it going to resolve the mobile phone universe. As I stated in other comments Microsoft has had the ability to do everything the iPhone and Android can do now, before, they just did not promote it as much as iPhone did once release claiming that they are ahead.
Yes, iPhone was marketed better and became more users friendly but don't talk like iPhone hit the market with those options. However Windows Mobile was not designed with the capabilities of phones today, but it was able to sync with other devices, sync with your PC or Mac, play music, customization of the UI, and launch apps further down the line once WM6.0,6.5 was released. So again get off the copy and paste deal.
Second, what needs to be addressed is how long it is taking for Microsoft to release updates and why in hell did they release it without these features that an older version was able to produce. Honestly I rather wait for the product to be finalized before it gets in the hands of consumers just to catch the waft of what all we read currently. But, okay, they released it, now it’s time to at least satisfy the ones that have been loyal to Microsoft and that is where I think they are digging a bigger hole.
Not only are we awaiting a real update so we can move on from checking our phones and computers all day, it has been documented that the Samsung Focus is the most owned WP7 phone and still counting. I can only assume most new or switched phone platform users have chosen the Samsung Focus and guarantee that the diehard Windows Phone users choose to own the Samsung Focus as well. As for a very slow marketing push for the new Windows Mobile OS (WP7), Microsoft themselves even choose the Samsung Focus which is available only on At&t, who from the start stated that they will be the sole provider of WP7 are not even in the top list of having the update first. Now when I see the commercials I can only get pisst off because they still show the Samsung Focus yet Sprint release of the HTC Arrive comes with the "NO-DO" update installed.
Okay, Okay, sounds a little whinny, but my point is why not show your loyal consumers some love back by at least working with At&t ("your sole provider") so that the update would fall in the hands of those that have awaited you the longest than to reward another carrier whom seem to not be interested in WP7 in the beginning. Now how do you plan to market through At&t claiming a different kind of phone yet Sprint has the real difference in what you first wanted to release back in Nov. 8, 2010. I just don't see that as fair.