Microsoft reassures WP7 users–Nothing has changed regarding updates

January 8, 2012 | By Surur

everything_went_better_than_expected Microsoft launched a massive brouhaha yesterday when they said updates will depend on carrier requests, rather than the needs of users for bug fixes, security and features.

Now according to Mary Jo Foley Microsoft has said nothing has really changed, and they are not under pressure from carriers.

“Nothing has changed in regard to how we work with carriers to deliver Windows Phone updates to our customers,” maintained Greg Sullivan, Senior Product Manager on Windows Phone on the 7th January 2012.

He confirmed to Mary Jo Foley that if a carrier skips an update the next one will still include the fixes from the first.

“The word is Microsoft’s policies and procedures around how the company develops updates, delivers them to carriers for testing and delivers them to customers is exactly the same as it was a year ago” notes Mary Jo.

Greg also denied removing the “Where is my phone update” page due to pressure from carriers, saying simply the page has become too unwieldy.

If nothing has really changed Microsoft has just given itself a massive black eye due to poor communication right before their major CES Nokia announcement. Good job Microsoft…

About Surur

Site Admin and Windows Phone enthusiast, he has been using Windows Mobile devices since before they were called PocketPC’s. He is currently sporting a HTC 7 Trophy.

Tagged microsoft, updates, windows phone 7.5

Shaman Tanthew

Hey WMPU, why do you have to tweet every story twice?

Hey WMPU, why do you have to tweet every story twice?

http://twitter.com/CommanderElvis Ian McLellan

I’ve noticed that lately.

I’ve noticed that lately.
Anonymous

There is actually an explanation. We use dlvrit to tweet the posts, but those go out only every 15 minutes. If the story is noteworthy I manually tweet the post also as soon as it is published, hence the two tweets. Its not for every post, just the ones I want people to read hot of the presses.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1300735256 Andrew Bares

Loll

http://www.gadgeterija.net Denis Jelec

“If nothing has really changed Microsoft has just given itself a massive black eye due to poor communication right before their major CES Nokia announcement.”

Thumbs up for this sentence. Allow me to quote Ed Bott from today:
“Dear Microsoft, experts are available who can help you tell a story in a way that does not piss off your customers. Details on request.”
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1300735256 Andrew Bares

No. If anything, news editors gave Microsoft a black eye.

Some editors completely failed at interpreting what was said. Microsoft worded it fine. This is just like seeing a picture with a water cup that has some squares on it and thinking “WP7!” It’s a HUGE stretch and has no decent justification.

Microsoft did a fine job communicating.

Anonymous

That’s tabloid “journalism” for you….

http://windowsphoneapps.es Windowsphoneapps

great news, we had scared
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_HOKQSWPW34HSO7G6IUTT74VVGQ Manu Narayan

A massive black eye? You know the only people that cared? WP fantatics. You know who will still buy a WP? WP fanatics.

The “wheres my update’ page was stupid and unneccessary. The information was barely helpful and it really still was at the whim of the carrier. With how Mango rolled out, who cares.

Anonymous

“The information was barely helpful and it really still was at the whim of the carrier.”

Exactly and instead of less information it needed to be expanded to show specific information about all updates.
Anonymous

Microsoft’s update procedure is currently the only significant and unique WP7 feature. Everything else is superficial (XBOX integration might not be, but I couldn’t care less about it). My support of WP7 isn’t routed in fanaticism. Changing this policy removes the only compelling reason for me to stick with WP, and I doubt I would if it changed. Many of the people I know think similarly.

http://twitter.com/WP7_Experience Heinz Rüdiger

yea nothing changed…wheres the update for the people which must still use 7720?
http://www.facebook.com/people/James-Matthews/100000189923615 James Matthews

Seriously Surur you should apply for a position at Fox News.
Anonymous

Didn’t I already say, not a big deal, relax everyone. Some news logically don’t make sense until there are more news to make a big picture visible. Never just consume everything given to you on a plate, always zoom out and see the big picture first. Just like Ronald Reagan once said “Trust, but verify”.
Emi Cyberschreiber

-sigh- …
sinbandera01

Surur u may have a point about the black eye but at the same time, they may have just seen the light and retracted a damaging statement to save their own a**es and avoid losing what little market share we have created for ms as users.
Peter Aaen Erichsen

157 negative comments at the Windows Phone Blog dosen’t lie: (http://windowsteamblog.com/windows_phone/b/windowsphone/archive/2012/01/06/new-maintenance-release-for-windows-phone.aspx#comments)

People are furious at not getting their updates! Rightly so!
http://twitter.com/IceInPerson Dom

Putting people first. NOT!
http://twitter.com/counterblow the person

Microsoft is correct, they haven’t changed how they work with carriers. What they have changed is how they work with consumers to embarrass the greedy aholes known as carriers.

The WMU page was too unwieldly? Seriously? There are only like 4 US carriers to worry about. What a lame lame excuse.