Microsoft says no (again) Windows Phone 7 Series on the HTC HD2

Too Many Buttons??


Mary Jo Foley just received a statement (identical to the one posted by Pocket-Lint yesterday) from Microsoft’s PR about Windows Phone 7 Series on the HTC HD2:

“For Windows Phone 7 Series we are enforcing a strict set of hardware requirements to ensure a consistently great experience for end-users and developers. While we cannot confirm that WM6.X phones that satisfy those requirements will be upgradeable, every Windows Phone 7 Series device will be upgradeable with improvements and features we deliver with subsequent Windows Phone 7 Series releases. We currently do not have plans to update the HTC HD2 to Windows Phone 7 Series.”

Once again, I suggest that everybody should wait for an official “announcement” from either HTC or Microsoft in the coming weeks (at MIX?) before going crazy. Microsoft and HTC have been contracting themselves in this case since the announcement of WP7 last month. HTC and MS representatives have both told me that the HTC HD2 is fully capable of running WP7 but that nothing was decided yet (One saying that it’s the OEM/carrier choice, the other saying that it’s MS’s decision…). One thing is for sure thought: If the HD2 can’t be upgraded to WP7 I wouldn’t recommend anybody in the US to buy the handset when it finally launches on T-Mobile later this month.

source All About Microsoft & Pocket-Lint

M. Daou | March 4th, 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Category: News
  • Sick

    Pray tell, why wouldn’t you recommend anyone in the US buy this phone? I fell in love with, and planned on getting this device way before anything was known about WP7 (and so did a lot of other people) and I still feel the same. But now you imply I should feel differently? Why? Has it somehow become inferior and less of a powerhouse from when it was first went on sale? I am really curious on your reasoning?

  • Sick

    Pray tell, why wouldn’t you recommend anyone in the US buy this phone? I fell in love with, and planned on getting this device way before anything was known about WP7 (and so did a lot of other people) and I still feel the same. But now you imply I should feel differently? Why? Has it somehow become inferior and less of a powerhouse from when it was first went on sale? I am really curious on your reasoning?

  • http://www.mobiletechworld.com/tips-contact/ M. Daou

    My reasoning is the following: What do you expect developers to do when WP7 is finally out ? Still support WM6.X or go to WP7? From the way it looks right now everybody is jumping ship (See Skype, Adobe? etc..) and more will be announced at MIX in 2 weeks. Windows Mobile 6.5 is going to be kept alive for legacy purpose and IT businesses who can’t switch to a new modern OS because of their own WM6.X based apps. I wouldn’t remcomend the HD2 because I don’t want people to buy a device that won’t be fully supported by MS and the Dev/Gaming community and get stuck on a 24Months contract knowing that similary speced hadnsets with WP7 are going to be available only 6/8months after the release of the HD2 on T-mobile.
    The HD2 is IMO one of the best smartphone on the market now (I have one and you can check my review too). It is a Powerhouse but WM6.X can’t even take advantage of all this power (see the lack of HD video support compared to Android as an example). HTC (or MS) decison to let it ‘die’ with WM6.X sucks big time.

  • http://www.mobiletechworld.com/tips-contact/ M. Daou

    My reasoning is the following: What do you expect developers to do when WP7 is finally out ? Still support WM6.X or go to WP7? From the way it looks right now everybody is jumping ship (See Skype, Adobe? etc..) and more will be announced at MIX in 2 weeks. Windows Mobile 6.5 is going to be kept alive for legacy purpose and IT businesses who can’t switch to a new modern OS because of their own WM6.X based apps. I wouldn’t remcomend the HD2 because I don’t want people to buy a device that won’t be fully supported by MS and the Dev/Gaming community and get stuck on a 24Months contract knowing that similary speced hadnsets with WP7 are going to be available only 6/8months after the release of the HD2 on T-mobile.
    The HD2 is IMO one of the best smartphone on the market now (I have one and you can check my review too). It is a Powerhouse but WM6.X can’t even take advantage of all this power (see the lack of HD video support compared to Android as an example). HTC (or MS) decison to let it ‘die’ with WM6.X sucks big time.

  • Sick

    Really?? Despite its shortcomings and age, out the box winmo imho is the still the most powerful, capable mobile os out. And with what’s available to it now, it can sustain for a good year or two especially on the US version HD2 with its even higher specs and goodies despite dwindling support from third-party devs. Besides, XDA-Devs is the only 3rd party we need, even if they don’t provide WP7’s OS.
    Are you serious, when you mentioned Skype and Adobe??? How long has Skype actually been developing for winmo anyway? And from what I’ve read it wasn’t that great an effort on their part. As for Adobe, how many yrs have we been waiting for them to update their flash??? Don’t get me wrong, a full flash capable device would be great, but at this point, we’ve already found ways to deal without theirs. And I think “everybody is jumping ship” is kinda exaggerating, no? Those two were barely there in the first place and I haven’t heard mention of any others.
    And you can’t possibly believe that most people reading these tech blogs are waiting 24 months to get new phones despite being on contracts, right? 6 to 8 month is like a lifetime to some of us. 6 to 8 month is how long it’s taking to go from CES to MWC to MIX. Years will have past for me until WP7 is actually released. I would’ve been had the HD2 already if it wasn’t coming to the US officially. And I’m especially glad I waited now since this one will be even better and much cheaper than the original European version… and you say don’t but it???? SH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!T. You will have to kill me! LOL. I have bought 4 smart phones since last February, it would be five if kept that Android. I have friend that are on two or three and none of us are rich by any means.
    Look, I kind of understand what you are saying but I think it’s statements like that last sentence coming from tech bloggers has helped put windows mobile in the exact place where it is now. You guys have no idea how much power you have. A cautionary statement like, I don’t know maybe, “development and support from third-parties could dwindle significantly bla bla bla” or something like that would be a lot less damaging, is all I’m saying. Not, drop kicking it when its barely able to stand up!

  • Sick

    Really?? Despite its shortcomings and age, out the box winmo imho is the still the most powerful, capable mobile os out. And with what’s available to it now, it can sustain for a good year or two especially on the US version HD2 with its even higher specs and goodies despite dwindling support from third-party devs. Besides, XDA-Devs is the only 3rd party we need, even if they don’t provide WP7’s OS.
    Are you serious, when you mentioned Skype and Adobe??? How long has Skype actually been developing for winmo anyway? And from what I’ve read it wasn’t that great an effort on their part. As for Adobe, how many yrs have we been waiting for them to update their flash??? Don’t get me wrong, a full flash capable device would be great, but at this point, we’ve already found ways to deal without theirs. And I think “everybody is jumping ship” is kinda exaggerating, no? Those two were barely there in the first place and I haven’t heard mention of any others.
    And you can’t possibly believe that most people reading these tech blogs are waiting 24 months to get new phones despite being on contracts, right? 6 to 8 month is like a lifetime to some of us. 6 to 8 month is how long it’s taking to go from CES to MWC to MIX. Years will have past for me until WP7 is actually released. I would’ve been had the HD2 already if it wasn’t coming to the US officially. And I’m especially glad I waited now since this one will be even better and much cheaper than the original European version… and you say don’t but it???? SH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!T. You will have to kill me! LOL. I have bought 4 smart phones since last February, it would be five if kept that Android. I have friend that are on two or three and none of us are rich by any means.
    Look, I kind of understand what you are saying but I think it’s statements like that last sentence coming from tech bloggers has helped put windows mobile in the exact place where it is now. You guys have no idea how much power you have. A cautionary statement like, I don’t know maybe, “development and support from third-parties could dwindle significantly bla bla bla” or something like that would be a lot less damaging, is all I’m saying. Not, drop kicking it when its barely able to stand up!

«  
  »