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It’s Confirmed – No Windows Phone 8 Upgrade for Existing Customers

June 20, 2012 11:15 pm By 7 Comments

It turns out that the rumors flying around the internet the last couple weeks have been true – Microsoft will not be providing an upgrade to Windows Phone 8 for first or even second generation hardware. If you own a Windows Phone today – you will not be able to upgrade to Windows Phone 8. All those early adapters that supported the platform and promoted it to their friends and family just got the big middle finger from Microsoft. I can understand that a line had to be drawn. But to cut off current hardware, the stuff that is in the market today, from getting an upgrade? That’s not a nice way to treat customers. People walking into AT&T today, next week, or even in late September and buying a Windows Phone will not get the chance to upgrade it to Windows Phone 8, even when newer models are shipping with the update already on them.

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Now, Microsoft did say they will provide an update for older hardware so that they will get access to the new Start Screen feature found in Windows Phone 8. But that’s it. As app developers start to embrace the newer SDK and the functionality it brings with it, older users will be left with less and less apps. Basically, todays phones are limited to the apps found in the marketplace today. All future apps, using newer functionality are off limits.

Microsoft was quick to say that Windows Phone 7.x apps will run on Windows Phone 8 and Nokia also promised many new software updates for their existing devices. But that’s where things end.

For the record, I’m not saying that Windows Phone 8 sucks. Just that Microsoft should be doing more to ensure that the early adaptors are not left high and dry.

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About Mike Temporale

Mike Temporale has written 607 posts on Mobile Jaw..

Mike Temporale grew up fascinated by computers since an early age. His first hands on with a computer came when he was 7 years old and a travelling lab of Commodore PET computers made a stop at his school. Hooked on the new world these devices offered, he took any chance possible to get in front of a computer. When Compaq launched the iPaq 3600, he was hooked again. This time on a whole new world of mobile computing. Today, Mike spends his day helping clients deploy and manage their mobile device around the world. From installing custom software, to locking and securing data, and everything in between. He is also the Editor in Chief at Mobile Jaw - a site focused on today's mobile world.

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  • John.Obeto

    I agree completely, with early adopters getting screwed, especially since most devices won’t even be 2yrs old when Windows Phone 8 is released.

    However, I believe the advances in the platform required that. If not, Microsoft would have been faced with another ‘Windows Vista Capable-like’ disaster.

    That said, what makes this particularly galling, is the lack of information or clarity from Microsoft these past several months when rumors were swirling in either direction on the upgrade issue.

    • http://www.MobileJaw.com/ Mike Temporale

      In Canada, the carriers use a 3 year contract – so these poor people are screwed even worse. They’ve got a long time left on that contract. 

      I can understand the Microsoft decided not to say anything. Their decision left them in a really bad situation. If they confirm it too early, they risk a Palm like death. If they leave it too late then consumers will be infuriated by having purchased a device and it’s been left behind so quickly.

      Now, I don’t disagree with the need to embrace new technology in order to keep current. I think the changes and features they highlighted are great. What I don’t like is the way existing customers are being treated. The current version of Windows runs on a single, dual, or quad core processor without any problems. Since we’ve moved to a shared kernel, the support for multi-core should not be the reason these users are left out of an upgrade. 

      As it stands, everyone with a current device, and anyone that decides to purchase one between now and Windows Phone 8 launch (roughly 4 months from now) will not get to enjoy any of the new apps that leverage native code, or the games built to take advantage of the new DirectX features. All the new amazing game functionality they talked about will never come to an existing customer. More and more developers will push forward with the new features and the app catalog for all those early adapters that jumped on at the ground level to help Microsoft will be left with an empty marketplace – old stale apps. 

      • John Obeto

        The hardest job right now goes to Nokia, where the beautiful Lumia 900 is now suddenly obsolete.

        I don’t envy them the next few months…

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