New sources say current Windows Phone devices will NOT receive ‘Apollo’ upgrade

Posted by on April 17 at 11:43pm
Joe Fedewa is 23 years old and lives near Lansing, Michigan. He's been interested in technology ever since he got his first flip phone. Since then he's evolved from flip phones to smartphones, and become even more interested in everything from cord cutting to web browsers. Joe is also an avid sports fan and sci-fi movie geek. He's a Joe of all trades.
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It’s only been 5 hours since we reported that a Microsoft evangelist said all current devices will receive an update to Windows Phone 8 and we’re already seeing reports that suggest the complete opposite. Trusted sources familiar with the situation have told The Verge that the Microsoft evangelist is absolutely wrong, saying there will be no upgrade path from Mango to Apollo.

This would be a mistake of monumental proportions. Microsoft is pushing Windows Phone hard right now, and Nokia is right by their side pumping money into advertisements we are seeing all over the place. For them to completely abandon current devices after trying so hard to get people to buy phones like the Lumia 900 would be a disaster. It would leave people feeling duped. Like Microsoft just wanted to make a few extra bucks before releasing the next version.

The fact that this rumor even exists shows just how poorly Microsoft is handling Windows Phone. The platform is struggling. If they were aware of that they would 1) make WP8 compatible with current devices, and 2) make sure everyone knows that! The bad publicity is not helping.

Discuss.

  • http://twitter.com/DHRYDER305 Junior

    Ive said it from the beginning. The silence on this issue will make people just give up on WindowsPhone. With Apollo pretty close there is no excuse for the silence on upgrading. I have a gen 1 device and wont be upgrading until I have my answer. With the iPhone 5 on the way soon, it may be too late.

  • http://twitter.com/timmyjoe42 tim bennett

    It’s why I am refraining from buying one.

  • http://www.gamesobscura.com/ themizarkshow

    Good. They absolutely should drop support for the current devices bc they are under-powered in the wider scope of things and definitely won’t last another few years.

    Microsoft needs to make Windows8 a beast of an experience that is going to blow people away and create a similar experience across desktops, laptops, tablets, and phones. To do that, you have to “fragment” some stuff. It is just bound to happen and the sooner they do it, the better. Rip the bandaid off quickly, don’t do it slowly.

  • http://twitter.com/DHRYDER305 Junior

    so a 900 or titan II that someone just bought a week ago shouldnt run Apollo thats going to be out in a few months? gen 1 devices I can understand. Not gen 2 phones that will be 3-4 months old on a 2 yr contract. Apple can get their users to do that, WP doesnt have that luxury.

  • http://www.gamesobscura.com/ themizarkshow

    I would exclude the Lumia and Titan2 from my first statement, because they are new enough and seem sound enough to last for a while. But I think by the end of the 2 yr contract, those users will be counting down the days until they can get the new phone bc of how much “lower end” of a phone they are compared to Android/iOS devices releasing right now.

  • Aeires

    If this was Android, people would be saying it was fragmented. How is this any different?