Will Microsoft deliver a Windows Phone 8 update or won't they?

Windows Phone

Yesterday was quite the rollercoaster ride in the bubble word of tech-media. First at that place was a Microsoft employee stating on photographic camera that yes, all Windows Phones will go the an update to Windows Telephone 8 aka "Apollo" which is expected to drop on the fall. Then came a story on the Verge from our onetime dominate and friend Dieter citing a trusted (but unnamed source) that no phones will be getting the update.

Well, that's certainly a 180 on the issue.

And what does Microsoft have to say? Well, not much of grade. From a Microsoft spokesperson we were told the aforementioned thing as every other site:

"We have stated publicly that all apps in our Marketplace today will run on the next version of Windows Phone. Beyond that, we have nothing to share about future releases."

Their contention is that Silva, the Microsoft Evangelist on video claiming all phones volition get the update, was possibly mistaken or confused when talking about updates versus app compatibility. (Microsoft recently confirmed app compatibility with Windows Phone viii).

As our own Rafael Rivera said on Twitter: "Come on, nosotros seriously believed a developer evangelist from Portugal had close guarded core information on Windows Telephone? ". Indeed.

A few months ago we personally heard from someone with direct contact at Microsoft that jives with what the Verge claimed: no phones will get the update. ZDNet'southward Mary Jo Foley has also heard the same thing lending more credence to the merits. However, since none of us share our sources for all we know we're all citing the aforementioned person, which doesn't really ostend anything so long as they desire to remain anonymous.

So why is there such a discrepancy in these stories?

Possible explanations

For one, in that location are a lot of complications involved including whether or not carriers will back up such an update (if information technology were possible). Considering of that Microsoft may not want to publicly commit to stating all phones volition get the update as that could tick off carriers who don't want such public pressure. Come across AT&T as an instance.

Second, we've heard from a Microsoft employee (only non confirmed) that Microsoft only started internally testing Windows Phone 8 on March 30th. In industry jargon this is called "dogfooding". If that's the case then hardware testing on various devices has just begun leaving Microsoft in a position of wanting to update all phones merely not being able to yet guarantee compatibility.

In fact, a build of Windows Telephone 8 (8.0.9662.0) showed up in the app "I'm a WP7!" merely alas, information technology was only on an emulator non bodily phone hardware yet.

A 3rd more grandiose explanation goes similar this: Current Windows Phones volition get an Apollo-like update while new Windows Phone viii devices will be running something different, a truly new OS (at the kernel-level) that requires new hardware east.g. higher resolution screens, dual-cadre CPUs, etc.. This seemingly could explain why folks like MS_Nerd and Microsoft Evangelist Nuno Silva state that all phones tin can get the update while other sources say otherwise.

Trouble with this explanation is there is no hard evidence that this two-pronged route for the time to come of the Os is true. It only sounds plausible (and perhaps hopeful on our part). Of course with Microsoft non saying much on the topic and very few details on what Windows Phone 8 is similar or based on, we're left to only speculation and hand-wringing.

And that's the trouble.

Why so quiet, Microsoft?

Normally, not announcing features or upgrade paths for a major Bone overhaul is not that large of a deal, heck Apple tree does this all the fourth dimension. But with devices like the high-profile Nokia Lumia 900 just being released (and going international presently) it certainly puts a lot of pressure on all the parties involved. In fact information technology would exist very hard for any of us to accept to defend such a prominent device if it were not getting the update (and frankly, we don't want to have to face the customer blow back from such a decision).

Microsoft, to their credit, is keeping Windows Phone 8 under wraps quite effectively. With Mango being announced and demonstrated so early before its release, Microsoft may take revealed their cards besides early allowing their competition to mimic some functionality. By keeping WP8 close to their vest, they can hopefully ensure a surprise reaction from Google and Apple.

Even when we spoke with AT&T recently, they had no thought what Microsoft's plans were for Apollo and were waiting on Redmond for an answer.

Our official opinion on the matter is we'll wait till Microsoft commits publicly to the hereafter of Windows Phone 8. But knowing the pressures of the Lumia 900 and the nature of modern mean solar day tech-journalism, nosotros bet we'll be getting a lot more than back and along over the next few weeks.

Buckle upwardly, kids.

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