AfterDawn: News

Don't fret Windows Phone 8 owners, your phone will be upgradable to the next operating system

Unlike its Windows 7 devices which are now dead, Microsoft has confirmed that Windows Phone 8 device buyers will be able to upgrade to the next version of the operating system, codename Blue.

Greg Sullivan, a senior marketing manager at Microsoft, confirmed the fact during this week's MWC 2013, in which Microsoft was notably absent. "We're not going to do this thing where we announce the next version [of Windows Phone] months and months before it's available. Over the course of the next several months, I wouldn't be surprised to see some exciting new devices and more interoperability before we start talking about what [opeating system] is next."



Windows Phone 7 owners were not able to upgrade to Windows Phone 8 due to hardware restrictions, and are now stuck on a WP 7.8, a hybrid between Windows 7 and Windows 8's better features.

As the exec says, "Windows Phone 8 can evolve. We have an architecture that enables portability and is fundamentally hardware independent. As the market evolves and customer requirements demand it, we'll evaluate options."

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 28 Feb 2013 22:48

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• 6 comments

• Deadrum33

  Have used windows phone for over 2months and can say i like the layout and functionability better than droid or iToys. Of course there arent as many good apps yet but maybe soon?

  1.3.2013 01:42 #1

• megadunderhead

  maybe never most people are heading to alternative operating systems like android mozilla's firefox o.s and even i.o.s because there tired of apps on windows devices that require exclusivity to microsoft only
  

  1.3.2013 08:42 #2

• Ofnir1

  Originally posted by megadunderhead: ...because there tired of apps on windows devices that require exclusivity to microsoft only It's odd that Microsoft is seemingly becoming an Apple clone, all the while employing the "Sony Strategy" (don't bother Googling that, I just made it up xD). Back in the day of the PlayStation 2, Sony would lock in devs to produce titles for their console only. Probably why the original Xbox didn't have much variety to it.
  

  
  

  2.3.2013 05:42 #3

• xnonsuchx

  Originally posted by Ofnir1: Originally posted by megadunderhead: ...because there tired of apps on windows devices that require exclusivity to microsoft only It's odd that Microsoft is seemingly becoming an Apple clone, all the while employing the "Sony Strategy" (don't bother Googling that, I just made it up xD). Back in the day of the PlayStation 2, Sony would lock in devs to produce titles for their console only. Probably why the original Xbox didn't have much variety to it.
  Everyone does that. If the company is paying for a large chunk of a title's development, why would they want the developer to be freely able to release it on competing systems? It hardly started w/ the PS2, though perhaps certain companies did more of it at certain times.

  2.3.2013 20:27 #4

• Mr-Movies

  Originally posted by Deadrum33: Have used windows phone for over 2months and can say i like the layout and functionability better than droid or iToys. Of course there arent as many good apps yet but maybe soon?
  
  I've been hearing this from many users I deal with. I don't like 8 but for a phone or possibly tablet it is pretty easy to use and now put on top of it that you don't have to buy a new device but can upgrade your existing OS is a huge advantage over the other guys.
  
  Smart move MS!
  

  8.3.2013 10:41 #5

• robertmro

  The Zune phone.
  

  9.3.2013 07:24 #6