Where is the SMTP Patch for BlackJack II Users?

Back in the middle of November, Microsoft released a patch for people having problems sending emails on Windows Mobile devices. As it turned out, there was a small bug that would prevent devices from being able to send email from a given account. You could be working just fine for days or months and then whammo! You would never be able to send email from that account again.

I had that very problem and was happy to see Microsoft release a fix that was simple enough to apply. The only problem, as some of you may recall, is that when I installed it I lost all my email accounts. Oh, and who can forget the sudden and forced reboot. As it turns out, the BlackJack II reacted differently than expected to this patch and after a small up-roar, Microsoft updated the site and clearly outlined that the patch doesn’t work on the BlackJack II but they are working with Samsung to resolve this certificate problem. That announcement is dated December 1st.

Two things that really disappoint me here – the first is how Microsoft can release a patch and not test it against their top selling phones first. The BlackJack II is one of the devices on the million+ seller list. To release a patch and not test it against the current devices on that list is short-sighted and shows a clear disregard for Microsoft’s partners and their customers.

The other thing that disappoints me about this is that Microsoft has done nothing for over 2 months. The original patch release date was on November 12th and the warning for BlackJack users was posted on December 1st. It’s now February 8th and there is no sign of any updates for BlackJack users. Again, this is one of their best selling handsets yet we’re still left out in the cold for a fix to a problem that by all accounts is nothing more than a certificate issue. Seems to me like a patch could have been corrected and released inside of a couple days. I’ll even give them 2 weeks because we all know how slow Microsoft has become over the last couple years. But there is no reason for this to still be outstanding 2 months later.

So Microsoft, what do I and the other million+ BlackJack II owners need to do to get this patch? If it would help speed things up, I can lend you my BlackJack II.