Microsoft: Windows Phone 7 upgrades will be possible, up to OEMs to make them happen
By Vlad Savov 
posted February 25th 2010 8:22AM
posted February 25th 2010 8:22AM
Alright, keep your socks on here, this is as noncommittal a statement as Redmond can make on the matter, but when asked directly about the likelihood and possibility of Windows Mobile 6.5 phones being transitioned to the new hotness that is Windows Phone 7 Series, Microsoft's Alex Reeve had this to say:As the Director of the company's UK Mobile Business Group, he's well positioned to know what's going to happen after said early days, and it's encouraging to hear that at least Microsoft won't be putting up any barriers to that HD2 upgrade we're all dreaming about. After all, the Chassis 1 specs we keep hearing about tend to sound an awful lot like HTC's 1GHz Snapdragon-powered bad self, so let's keep our fingers crossed and our minds open.It's early days yet, and that's really for our hardware partners to think about.
@petebob796
i could be wrong but im sure microsoft said it must have no more or less than 5 buttons but u could be right. but i said till we know the min specs it is silly to keep on with this hd2 upgrade stuff. say they say a min of 1gb of ram or something like that, i know it sounds a lot but we are talking about a os that will be out near the end of the year. (lg leaked specs have 1gb of ram on there first wm7 device).
My HD2 is HUNGRY !!!! :D
The other comments don't make any sense, who the hell on earth would like to buy an HD2 so he can upgrade it to winmo 7, its like buying a Ferrari and so you can drive it at 50 mph.
@Rany
How can you say this before you even get your hands on to a final WP7?...I know one thing...WP7 (software) has a lot of similarity to my Zune HD, and its interface ROCKS!!! Its ultra fast and beautiful...really a joy to use...it makes the ipod touch seem very old! If they going to make similar devices, its going to dominate the market IMO.
@Rany
By far, The WORST simile I have ever come across.
@Rany
Because the HD2 is a drop dead sexy device with the horsepower to run WM7. But I tend to agree, unless your phone is busted I'd wait. If Microsoft and the hardware manufac's want to compete there should be phones coming that'll blow the HD2 away.
@Rany Um, what ? I actually have a HD2 and i'd much rather use WP7 than WinMo 6.5, which isn't great. I would actually reverse your analogy, 6.5 is what has always held the HD2 back.
@SarnGate
well I can understand that some HD2 owners fell that winmo 6.5 maybe somewhat outdated or not as good as other OS, but believe me when you make that switch to winmo 7 you'll feel like your back to the stone age with a less functional OS than the original 6.5
@Rany No offense, but you don't know what you're talking about, you haven't even used the OS. I'd rather have a less customisable OS which actually manages itself and works without ROMs. Going into Task Manager every 2 minutes just sucks.
This is nothing really knew. MS has been saying this since the MWC announcement. It's HTC who probably doesn't want to provide the update.
@JudgeDredd
True: http://www.mobiletechworld.com/2010/02/17/microsoft-at-mwc-2010/
"She wouldn’t give me any info on a potential WP7 update for the HTC HD2, only telling me that it depends on the OEM (htc) and the operators."
Isn't Microsoft's requirements for WM7 along with screen processor etc... 5 hardware buttons? Home, Back, Search, on the front along with on/off and camera button?
The HD2 has more that the 3 front buttons and doesn't have a camera button
@ChrisSsk
also, the no backward compatibility should be a hint that MS is cutting the umbilical cord here (legacy). They can't do that with Windows, because, Windows is actually a successful product.
An abortion on WM6.5 is a no-brainer. Of course there's no upgrade path to WM7 and all those... task experience hubs :S
@Wesscoast: "Of course there's no upgrade path to WM7 and all those... task experience hubs :S"
Installing a new ROM (either legit or XDA) means a whole new OS, be it WM6.x or Android, making your whole point irrelevant.
But hey, who needs accuracy when you're trying to be the Chandler Bing of Engadget, right?
@ChrisSsk
Those are hardware requirements for NEW phones. Microsoft wants a set hardware spec for new phones so that customers buying such phones will have a particular user experience. The specs for new phones is to prevent buyers of new phones from being pissed off due to purchasing an "improper" WP7 phone (due to lack of buttons, lack of 4-point multitouch, lack of proper screen resolution, lack of speed, and/or lack of RAM, etc).
However, that doesn't have to necessarily apply to upgrading OLD phones. If a user of an old phone upgrades the OS, then that person goes into that situation with open eyes, with the understanding that an upgraded older phone won't necessarily provide the exact same user experience as a new phone would. That's how I look at it anyway. Were I HTC, I'd support HD2 upgradability as long as it has the necessary CPU, RAM, and screen. The number of buttons is not particularly irrelevant.
I'm more concerned with whether the HD2 can be made to support 4-point multitouch (I don't konw if that's strictly a software thing or not), because then HD2 would have difficulty running any apps made that required 4-point. But again, users of the HD2 would already be aware of such problems when they upgraded, so they wouldn't be pissed off.
I remember even back in the WinMo5 days that I had to hack my phones to get them to 6.0 because both Verizon and AT&T refused to release an official update. I will be shocked if any partner carriers offer an update when they can force users to buy a new device and commit to a new contract. It is not in their best interest to do so, so they probably won't. I guess that is a plus on the side of Apple's strict control over their platforms... carriers cannot pull that garbage.
Not gonna happen. Most WinMo 6.5 devices I know are far from being 1 GHz Snapdragons in my hand. Maybe one or two of them on the market today meet the WP7S requirements, but that's it.
All we'll have is XDA for hope.
I know my Tilt2 wouldn't make the cut - after all all its' guts are from the FUZE, which by default with its' 528 MHz Qualcomm MSM 7201A that almost every single frickin' phone out there had some variant of.
So, you could wait it out and get hardware optimized for the OS...or you could buy a device now that in a few months will be the BARE MINIMUM the OS can run on, with the wrong button configuration.
Sounds like a plan!
@Tes
You avatar make your comment that much funnier!
Where do I sign up?
Man I wish SPrint had the HD2 - it is one of the most exciting pieces of phone hardware I've seen in ages. Nope Sprint has a big pile of steaming nothing but low end phones at high end prices.
Ahhh.... Microsoft. You never fail to disappoint.
First you say the hardware platform is locked so everything will be standardized and you can grow the platform. THEN you say there are at least two more models on their way .... and NOW you say that old devices developed with an alternate OS in mind may support this OS ... even if they don't have the same buttons & hardware standards.
Microsoft ... read this next sentence three times:
WE'RE MAKING A MISTAKE!!!
One big reason the iPhone has been as successful as it's been is that it's got a fixed platform for developers to build on. Even before Windows Phone 7 Series (or whatever idiotic combination of words your marketing department slapped together) launches you've already knee-capped it. Take this quick quiz .... which one of these things isn't the same:
iPhone
Android
XBOX
Zune
Playstation
Slingbox
TomTom
Windows Phone 7 Series
Note to Microsoft ... you just spent millions building the "Windows 7" brand then you break it by throwing the word "phone" in the middle of it. I realize you did this because eventually there'll be a Windows 8 and you don't want to get stuck with the "7" moniker, but how about just "Windows Phone" ... because the vast majority of people don't give a shit about what version number their operating system is. They just want something that works.
Anyway, sounds like you're well on your way to botching you're standardized platform for developers, and potentially turning away new customers in order to please a base of users that's already paid.
Congrats. You never cease to amaze.
@telstar
You just criticized Microsoft on Engadget. Brace for downrank.
@telstar
They said during the annoucnement that there would be multiple form factors for the new OS. If older phones fit the bill (hardware wise) it would be asinine not to allow an upgrade. After all, if there is a lack of backwards compatability then you're going to cripple sales of the current WinMo phones and cost Microsoft's hardware partners a lot of money.
As long as all the phones support the same screen resolution, cpu speed, RAM, etc there really is no issue here.
The version number here matters a lot. WP7S and WPC are drastically different, so the version number matters.
Stop drinking the hater-ade.
@Bengal34
Microsoft pretty much has a global monopoly on all things "asinine".
Would make sense for MS to allow 7 to go on HD2 devices cos they are a ready deployed device base to showcase 7 on as soon as it is available...
However I just got a reply from HTC stating:
"Thanks for your email. The HD2 will remain on 6.5, as 6.5 will contionue to be developed even after the release of 7 series. Microsoft have been saying this for a very long time, so i do not know how orange have missed it. 6.5.x and 7 will be aimed at two differetn markets, and also microsoft did state in the launch event that no current devices would be licensed for the update. I hope this clears things up for you. Best regards, Pete W HTC"
I replied that I watched the launch live & don't recall any explicit comment that existing devices will not be permitted to upgrade. I also asked if his reply means 6.5.x would NOT be made available by HTC for HD2... waiting for reply.
Not win. Phone manufacturers ALREADY have your money for the device you ALREADY own. They want you to buy their NEXT device. You think they're gonna upgrade people for free when they could get another 500$ out of you? hahaha!
@DoctarPeppar Agreed...
But it mainly comes down to carriers. O2 in the UK have quietly made some WinMo OS upgrades for some handsets available in the past, but if you foul up the upgrade you're on your own. The vast majority of the non-nerd population are not going to go through the hassle, unless upgrades are delivered seamlessly and in a way that requires no intervention beyond restarting the phone.
I'd definitely, without a doubt, buy an HD2 with WPS7, but there's no way you can get me to buy one with WM6 on it.
Jailbreak WP7... Make it happen!~~~
WOw the HTC HD2 would be amazing with WinPhoS7
I have a feeling that an upgrade to Win Mobile 7 will require a hard refresh of your phone. Let's hope there's an easy way to backup all your data before doing this. I think most carriers/mfg's will not allow upgrades to avoid headaches of lost data or buggy phones.
Why? Who really wants a resistive touch screen? I think it would be likely to reduce the quality of the experience on the new platform.
@crichton007 the HD is a capacitive screen. and a gorgeous one at that. Def getting one next month to compliment my G1
LOL. "It's for our hardware partners to think about."
What MSFT really means: "Ok, hardware partners, you can provide upgrades of certain 6.5 devices to WM7, but if you cannibalize early WM7 sales by giving users a free upgrade, we're going to smack you around like we've been smacking around HTC. But go ahead, think about it. We dare you."
Still no news about the HTC HD3 rumours? Engadget seems to be kind of slow...
http://www.inside-handy.de/img/news/n7491.jpg
Specs:
* Windows Mobile 7
* 4,5 inch capacitive Multitouch-Touchscreen with 1280×800
* 8-Megapixel camera with Xenon flash
* 16GB memory (+ microSDHC slot)
* 1GB RAM
* 1GB ROM
* Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU with 1,5GHz
* GSM | Quadband / EDGE | 3G | HSPA | WiMAX / Bluetooth A2DP | WLAN
* HD video (720p)
* 3,5mm headjack
* HDMI
* 1800 mAh battery
@ArticiaS
that just looks like someones made the specs for their ultimate phone :P
As a longtime user of Windows mobile, even through the earliest incarnation of Pocket PC, I would have to agree on what has been said about MS trying to re-invent itself and being a step behind. Granted this new iteration is right in line with the the currrent offerings from Iphone and Android, but the fact is long-term market share is going to depend on customer base and market apeal.
What is throwing me off from the furvor is the fact that backwards compatability is not offered. I am sure there are users who would appreciate a intuitive Ui, but still need legacy support for apps that are really quite useful.
IMO, the reason why Android has become so popular so quickly is the fact that the open architecture has allowed development to become unfetered from restrictions based upon revenue hungry corporations. I think that Android has already gained a signifcant presence and is a real competitor to the Iphone. With out legacy support, Windows Phone 7 is really just a newcomer to the scene like WebOS and like WebOs, may not truly realise market share. The bottom line is, without market share, variety and availability of apps will not be as robust as the Iphone. And thats what we want right? Apps?
I think it's sort of unlikely that the hd2 will get the upgrade to 7 I mean wouldn't it be a better buisness move to jsut release an hd3?
@wtgig
I have to agree. The same thing happened to Sony Xperia X1 users. The phone was more than capable to handle the upgrade from WinMo 6.1 to 6.5, but Sony chose not to in favor of their pre-launch of the X2, which was waiting in the wings. Then again, the HD3 is still a ways off, and since a carrier like T-Mobile is in the picture there is a good chance that an upgrade would be a incentive to would-be buyers of the HD 3. Personally, I would buy the HD2 anyway and forgo any upgrade, since I would prefer legacy support.
This is why I bought a used Omnia when my last phone bit the dust. I wasn't going to get stuck in a contract when I knew new phone would be on their way in a year. And I know not to trust OEMs with putting out an update even though it would be relatively easy to put it out. I'll even bet there will be a perfectly usable leaked ROM that I could get for free. But I'm not playing Russian roulette with OEMs and leaked ROMs. Besides, I'll probably wait until I can get an unlocked LTE model.
Why the hell anyone wants to DOWNGRADE to UGLYPHONE7 is beyond me....