Paul Thurrott: Tango may not come to all Windows phones

January 10, 2012 | By Surur

Maybe not everyone will get to tango...

In an article about Microsoft’s Windows Phone game plan to increase sales in 2012, Paul Thurrott made an interesting claim.

He said:

There’s a lot more going on with Windows Phone, and how this platform evolves will dramatically affect its future as well. There are software updates to be had, for example, and with the Windows Phone family getting bigger and more diverse, Microsoft will no longer be providing any guidance about these updates. Nor will it be providing all updates to all users, since many will be targeted at specific markets and/or devices.

There should be two major sets of Windows Phone updates coming in 2012. (The addition of LTE-capable phones on AT&T in the first half of 2012 won’t require an update because, surprise, surprise, the current version of the software secretly already supported this.) The first is an update, or set of updates, code-named Tango, that’s targeting only new devices that will be sold in emerging markets. And this partially explains Microsoft’s recent recalcitrance about guidance: If you thought the NoDo situation was bad last year, imagine the whining we’d see if US-based Windows Phone users never got a particular update.

What Paul is suggesting is a major divergence from how Windows Phone 7 has worked so far. Of course of Tango only brings support for HVGA screens and sub-gigahertz processors I am sure we wont really mind, but it would be a concern of these come bundled with fixes and enhancements or even features which are not distributed to other Windows Phone 7 handsets just so the carriers will not have to bother testing a new update.

Is Windows Phone 7 about to fragment massively? Let us know your opinion below.

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 rumour, tango, windows phone 7.5, windows phone 7.75

http://twitter.com/neoxphuse Vong Ngo

I hope this is not true at all. This is one of the reasons we love WP, so we can get free regular updates. I can see that buying a new for each version of Windows Phone, as long as the timetable is within the 1.5-2 year window. But letting the carrieres decide… we’ll be like Android.
http://twitter.com/_dansays Daniel Clark

Paul Thurrot hasn’t been relevant for sometime now… starting with his rumors that ‘Mango’ wouldn’t be launched until sometime in 2012… yeah.

Anonymous

I don’t think your opinion of Paul is very accurate at all. His predictions, while not always perfect have been accurate enough to maintain a decent level of trust by many thousands of devoted followers both on his websites and through Leo Leports TWIT Windows Weekly video podcasts. And if you weren’t aware of that, you should give it a try. Given half a chance, I think you would greatly enjoy it.

Anonymous

Out of genuine interest, what accurate predictons did he make?

Anonymous

When, exactly did he make that prediction? I’ve heard that thrown around a bunch on this site and I read his blog fairly regularly, but, I’ve been unable to find it. I know he was wrong about it RTMing in July, but, everything I’ve read on his blog and all the results of my searches only contain his assertion that it would be made available in Sept or Oct 2011.

Anonymous

I can deal with some software being reserved for specific markets, like Tango, as long as other markets don’t miss out on some feature, and/or bug fixes. If Windows Phone still gets all important updates and bug fixes in all markets, then it’s fine.
Anonymous

I really hope Tango adds some new features (Skype) does anybody have a slight idea on when its goign to come out or even be mentioned? I assume that Lumia 900 will come prebuilt with Tango when its launched what else are they going to use with that FFC?

Anonymous

Yes, Lumia 900 will come pre-loaded with Tango. Elop mentioned that in his keynote yes.

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_EK2X4YGHUSMOMXOBTER73FPBUY Srini

Are you sure that’s the Tango firmware update? I thought that would be the Tango App.

Anonymous

Yes, ofcz, I meant Tango video calling App. My reply was in response to other comment about video calling.

Anonymous

The answer is simple: No!

When we say update we always think something new should add to our phone or fix something.

We always knew Tango is suppose to fix few stuff and basically it is for low-end Windows Phone devices.

So it is no surprise to see that HTC Titan II or Nokia Lumia 900 don’t need that update because these phones already have whatever they want to change or add with Tango update or simply are powerful enough that don’t need any changes to perfom better while for example few tweak will make Lumia 710 (low-end device) work better.

So as long as all major new features come to all phones (as an udate base on device and carrier) and they all work same and give you same features there is no fragmentation.

The only thing here is Microsoft should not let carriers decide to let people get update or not, otherwise you will see the same story we had with T-Mobile or AT&T back in old days.

This will not be a sea of mess like Android.

http://www.facebook.com/frankguillenjr Frank Guillen Jr

Loved your comment, you are totally right!!
http://totalcrap.myopenid.com/ TotalCrap

It doesn’t works the same for my Omnia7. It cannot even do video conferencing via FFC. Is that considered as missing a major feature then?

Donald Childrey

The problem is of course when you shell out the amount money your paying for these phone (contracts and what not) and then be told “your not getting this update because your phone doesnt have the capabilities” , well then dont sell these phones telling everyone how they can do everything, I realize technology changes, but als, not that much obviously since the new att phone already had it! Typical bs from the phone carriers and Microsoft did this before with winmo!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=543744342 Giles Doolan

I see Tango being what Nokia use on ASHER like handsets to push out Symbian and complete the move to a deep and meaningful bond with MS.
Other manufactures like ZTE create masses of low end Carrier branded phones that run basic OS’s with simple CPU’s etc.. i dont see why it would be much of a stretch to have a compact version of windows phone with less functionality, but app access through the market place taking on the basic handset world.
We can only but guess on Tango..

But MS did say earlier, that its for low end spec phones. I dont see this as fragmentation, i see this as an expansion of capability with the same structure and code base providing rapid port changes for a Tango phone app.
Anonymous

IMHO Paul Thurrot is a bit of an asshole. He claims to like Windows Phone but is very critical and negative about the people who work on it. He accused Brendan Watson of being a liar in one post, which proved to be completely false, but made no effort to appologise. He made a bold claim that we wouldn’t see the Mango until 2012 (hah). I wouldn’t see much point in giving him any credit for preticting tango will be only targeting some phones. I follow him for awhile in the early days of Windows Phone, but I think of him as someone who somewhat craves attention by critisising other peoples work, while not offering any real constructive critisism himself.

http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/6G3ZZJCHOLYP3S5CRCIHQ7WDSE MVIM

I don’t know if I’d go that far. He is a pundit and that’s to be expected. And it’s understandable with Microsoft’s inconsistent reliability when it comes to communicating with consumers that he would doubt their direction, or lack thereof. I also love Windows Phone, but Paul’s desire for Microsoft to get things right often seems to come through in a negative light. At the end of the day, I’m sure he means well; but personally, I share his frustration and understand why he says what he does.
Anonymous

I agree with brownbox. I’m about to give up on the Windows Weekly podcast because he whins and is so negative because he isn’t in the know. And for somone who wrote a Windows Phone Secret book, he sure doesn’t know much about the Windows Phone features. Its sad that Leo sneaks in his anti-MS jabs and Paul is inept to give reasonable answers.

Anonymous

lmao, i only watch the show for Leo’s jabs at paul, and mary jo is soooo boring. It was very fun to watch him degrade the folk working on windows phone development last year

Anonymous

He covers MS as a tech writer/blogger. He rarely makes predictions, if at all, and offers TONS of real constructive criticism himself, actually. He’s never been shy to offer what he’d like to see MS do.

What do y’all want, a John Gruber?

http://twitter.com/counterblow the person

i guarantee you they will say that with Apollo, no first gen phones will get it.

We’ve been sold down the river.

Anonymous

I guarantee the opposite frankly.

http://totalcrap.myopenid.com/ TotalCrap

What makes you so sure anyway? It will not be surprise for MS saying that first gen phones specs are too low for Apollo. And even if Apollo does supports, it will not be utilized to the max because first gen phones has lots of h/w limitations.

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_WUROVVOH7EIMFFFVSM5FJX4SOA Benjamin

if the fruity company could make do with updates pushing to its earlier generation phones, it is quite possible for MS to do the same as well. In terms of performance it might have utilize the max of its hardware, but in terms of features is still what the earlier generation phones will get. ( I think this is what they care about more… ) more features. It’s not everything about the hardware.
Anonymous

The HTC Radar is a second generation phone and has roughly identical specs to the first gen phones, though at a lower price point. I find it hard to imagine this phone won’t receive the very next major OS update. And if the HTC Radar gets it I can’t see why gen 1 phones won’t get it either.

As regards to first gen phone having hardware limitations.. I don’t expect Microsoft to upgrade my phone hardware too. If I want to get the full benefit of Apollo I may want to upgrade my two year old phone, but I expect it will be able to run the updated OS.

Anonymous

While the HTC Radar does technically still have a 1GHz processor, it’s actually a Snapdragon S2 processor (G1 phones are all running Snapdragon S1 phones). While clocked at the same speed, it’s actually significantly faster and offers more functionality than the launch devices.

Anonymous

if dual core is not neccessary for apollo then that would be bad. But if it is targeted at dual core systems then you already know…..

Anonymous

Matthijs Hoekstra, part of Microsoft NL and involved with Windows Phone, has already said on Tweakers.net that *nothing* has changed regarding which updates you get.

If Tango brings anything remotely necessary for current WP7 users, you’ll get it.

Anonymous

If your Carrier requests it.
http://profiles.google.com/pkpsvx007svx Marcelo Júnior

and me? the unlocked phone user?? what ‘s my carrier updates?
manually flashed 8107… zune didn’t detected anything….

Omnia 7 user

Anonymous

Patience.

I myself also have an unlocked Omnia 7.
Updates are sent out in waves – first a small group, then a few more, and more, and more – so it makes sense you don’t get it instantly.

Endeavour 1934

HVGA? Come on, Huawei has 720p smartphones at CES, and ZTE has 800×600 displays on the cheapest smartphones. Current WP7 displays are cheap enough for any smartphone market, why go lower?

http://profiles.google.com/pkpsvx007svx Marcelo Júnior

my omnia7 beats that!
i think that is nice… they are trying to sell even worse hardware compared to 1st gen wp7
so will the 1st gen have updates??

Anonymous

This uproar began with Eric Hautala’s message concerning update 8107, which he said would be rolled out “if the carrier requests it”. There are 6 bug fixes listed in 8107, only one of which is carrier dependent. At least one (the disappearing keyboard issue) is clearly wanted a.s.a.p. by users who are being affected by it, yet Hautala, Hoekstra and Thurrott appear to be airily brushing off the concern. This, I would hazard a guess, will cause even more frustration in customers.

It’s also not clear whether this update will be available to those of us with unlocked and unbranded phones.

As I’ve said elsewhere, for a group called “Customer Experience Engineering”, they couldn’t have done much worse if they’d tried…
Anonymous

If there is anything good in it someone on XDA will strip it out and post it….as usual
Andre

As expected. I should have made a bet with some people.