How does Microsoft's Windows Phone Update work? Much like other Microsoft software, Windows Phone has the abilty to update it's own operating system, regardless of carrier. It is a push communication method that can be turned on or off by the carriers.
Here is the process:
1. Microsoft creates an update for the Windows Phone.
2. The Carrier must then certify the release.
3. The Carrier then sends the release out to the customers phone.
What is wrong with this process? The carrier has the power to NOT release an update in order to sell you a phone. The carrier can send updates to specific phones. For instance, if Windows Phone gets a new update that auto-fill a certain field, and it is a popular addition to the phone, they might wait and advertise the fact that the particular NEW phone has the auto-fill field. This puts the carriers in a possition of power over updating. Red flag.
I understand why a carrier must throttle releases, vet releases and even stop releases from happening when Microsoft wants the update to happen, but overall this process could prove to be an issue.
Microsoft is addopting the same model as Apple has used. Theoreticly, your Windows Phone should get better over time. Updates are pushed and changes are made to the underlying OS and features are unlocked, or removed in hopes of making a better user experiance.
Microsoft who benifits from us using their desktop solution, encourages many functions via USB connections... like updates and backups, but nothing on the Wifi side of the house. Why not?
Question: Why can't Microsoft have a site such as mobile.windowsupdate.com that when the smart phone is on a Wifi connection, it gets updated automaticly? Just like Windows Update.
Sadly, it looks as if that too many not come to pass: carriers will, in fact, be able to hold back updates to some extent. Worse, it seems that Microsoft is doing everything in its power to avoid giving a straight answer about the situation.
Some things Microsoft mentioned about Windows Phone Updates:
- We build updates for all Windows Phone users, but must certify them with the carriers.
- They'll happen on a regular cadence like they do on the PC. If a carrier wants to stop an update they can. But they will get it out on the next release.
- Updates are cumulative. If one [carrier] doesn't get their testing done in time, the next push date comes and it goes out then. Carriers could in fact block updates to sell you a phone.
- Microsoft will not push updates onto carrier networks that they have not tested. Microsoft is being very trusting of the carriers here. This is very different from the situation with Windows Mobile where every phone was very different.
- With Windows Phone, there is no impact on OEM code, network code, and so on.
- Yes, there are upgrades that will require a full test pass. But most will not.
Microsoft will push Windows Phone 7 software updates to end users and all Windows Phone 7 devices will be eligible for updates.
