Microsoft alienated its most loyal users when the company announced that Windows Phone 7 users could only upgrade to Windows Phone 7.8 instead of Windows Phone 8. It seems that the company is at it again, as it plans to only support Windows Phone 8 until July 2014, which is only 18 months after its release.
This is what Microsoft has posted on its site:
“Microsoft will make updates available for the Operating System on your phone, including security updates, for a period of 18 months after the lifecycle start date. Distribution of the updates may be controlled by the mobile operator or the phone manufacturer from which you purchased your phone. Update availability will also vary by country, region, and hardware capabilities.”
For a company that has done so much for backwards compatibility and legacy support, it’s disappointing to see Microsoft give such a short lifespan for its mobile operating systems. It is understandable that new features may require more powerful hardware, but it seems that Microsoft could be doing more to help users with older handsets feel more cared for.
The company has stayed tight-lipped about the next version of Windows Phone but it’s probably safe to assume that devices currently running Windows Phone 8 will probably get an updated operating system down the line. Windows Phone 8 introduced a new kernel that works between Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 so handsets should be upgradable. The more alarming take away is that mobile carriers will have more power and control over which phones get OS upgrades.
With this news, Windows Phone fans can’t help but feel a little betrayed at the short product lifecycle. Does this news turn you off from getting a Windows Phone? Let us know in the comments.
Source: Microsoft Support
