Yesterday Microsoft began rolling out their latest update for Windows Phone 7 handsets internationally. But Aussies who bought their phone from an Australian telco are still waiting for some NoDo goodness. So when can they expect to start enjoying the simple pleasures of copy/paste and faster app launching? Turns out, it varies.
Telstra yesterday confirmed that the HD7 would launch with NoDo pre-installed next week. The HTC Mozart, which launched back in October on Telstra, should also get the update through Telstra next week, according to Director of Device Management at Telstra, Andy Volard. The LG Optimus 7 Q, also a Telstra WP7 handset, hasn’t been confirmed o receive the update yet – we’ve asked Telstra for details and will update when we hear more.
UPDATE: We’ve just heard from Telstra that the promised update next week for the Mozart is actually just the pre-update update, and will roll out to the Optimus 7Q as well. The full update for both phones will be made available in April.
Optus is a little bit more vague with its timing, telling us they expect to see the Windows Phone 7 updates rolling out in the second half of April.
VHA have a similar response – they’ve received the updated software for testing, and they “will know more mid-April”.
It’s a bit of a change from what Microsoft led us to believe back when the platform rolled out in October last year, that they would handle the rollout of the software updates. But it turns out that’s not quite the case. We’ve received an official statement from Microsoft which essentially says that while all phones will get the update eventually, it’s up to the carriers to roll it out:
“Windows Phone 7 customers will receive notice of availability of Windows Phone 7 updates when the update is available for their phone. This notice will vary by mobile operator based on testing schedules. All Windows Phone 7 devices are eligible to receive these updates. That said, updates will be delivered on a rolling schedule so not all users will receive the update on the same day it is first made available.”
Given how much frustration we’ve seen from Android customers waiting for software updates from telcos, this doesn’t bode well for the Microsoft platform. Sure, it’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s a frustration that potential WP7 customers may not want to deal with.
poedgirl
Thursday, March 24, 2011 at 12:18 PMAs I said in the last update post, I’m really pissed off at Microsoft over this. One of the major reasons I bought a Windows Phone was for unified updates. They flat out lied to us.
They specifically said that ALL devices on ALL carriers would get the update at the same time.
Warren Stevens
Thursday, March 24, 2011 at 1:19 PMThat behaviour which you seek is exactly why I threw out my iPhone. I disliked the way Apple waved updates in your face and expected every consumer to blindly install them without considering that half your apps will not be compatible or will break magnificently until their 3rd party developers rewrite their code.
Apple are touting this as great user experience but it is not, this is an advanced task that should be left up to the carriers who perform rigorous testing on their networks before releasing to the public. As it has ALWAYS been done (if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it).
I actually like this direction Microsoft is going as it strays away from the Apple-like updating which is also what happens on modern Windows since XP.
For the readers who are more technically minded, there are ways to install updates yourself on platforms like Android and WP7. Whereas even Apple leave out support for older devices without warning. Coupled with the fact that you need to jailbreak to do anything useful with an Apple iDevice – which makes updates even more dangerous. What piss poor customer experience.
poedgirl
Thursday, March 24, 2011 at 1:48 PMSo your argument is that you shouldn’t update because it may break some apps, then you say the carrier should test it first. I really don’t get the connection between these two.
I have ALWAYS hated that carriers have the final say whether or not I get an update. Most of the time they delay it just to make sure their crappy software runs on the new version – which I don’t want anyway.
As for the Apple method, I actually like this. They give out beta versions of major updates to developers months before the public gets their hands on them. You also have the OPTION of updating, you’re not forced to. Every app states which version of the OS it has been tested on and it’s up to you to check that. Having the carrier test the version first won’t change any of that.
Kroo
Thursday, March 24, 2011 at 10:18 PMHow does an article about WP7 updates turn into a full on Apple hate fest mate? Just because Microsuck are 5 years behind everyone else doesn’t mean they’ll run past them in any great hurry. Google did a better job than microsuck at taking the game up to Apple. Where have MS been? Scratching their bums mate. This is what you get with fragmentation, and what, you think a firmware update won’t break older apps on a WP7?? In my experience ios developers usually get their updated apps out within days of a new ios release. Oh, BTW. All other smart phone have had copy/paste for years now mate. Cheers.
Nathan Sheppard
Thursday, March 24, 2011 at 1:58 PMI miss my iPhone – I regret going the HTC WP7
Robert
Thursday, March 24, 2011 at 2:22 PMJust to put that opinion of yours into context. Your facebook profile says that you also like Supernatural and SpongeBob SquarePants.. Strange for a guy to like those thing and iPhone, no?
Nicholas
Thursday, March 24, 2011 at 3:52 PMThis would piss me off too. I spent ages looking at different phones, and when I was considering them I only looked at WP7 and the iP4 because of this issue, I couldn’t stand the idea of not knowing when updates were coming based on operators.
Guess I’m lucky I went with the iPhone for extra storage ^.-
Matt
Thursday, March 24, 2011 at 12:22 PMWow, well that’s completely not what we were told! Still better that Android in that the updates actually get out there – but a long way from “Microsoft managing everything”.
Harvz
Thursday, March 24, 2011 at 12:49 PMcan you install the update yourself? like many people do on android.
James Confessore
Thursday, March 24, 2011 at 12:57 PMExtremely Disappointing… “we will know more mid april” in Vodafone language, I will expect this released for Christmas!
Robert
Thursday, March 24, 2011 at 12:59 PMI was led to believe that updates would be provided ‘as is’ with no customization or tinkering required/allowed by the telcos. This must be a cautious text ‘n cert safeguard. If all goes well this time, I’d expect things to go more soothely in the future.
jayradical
Thursday, March 24, 2011 at 1:24 PMI just ditched android for WP7, as I was sick of the pathetic software support, bugs etc and waited 6+ months just to get android 2.1 when 2.3 was already being rolled out on other handsets (was using SE xperia).
Anyway I now have a mozart, it’s a nextg model but I’m with optus. Any idea where the updates will come from or if theres a source I can download directly without worrying about SP’s installing their own crap into the update or whatever?
hugh
Thursday, March 24, 2011 at 1:31 PMit would be interesting to see what testing telcos actually do. because these updates rarely touch the phone stack unless there is a major problem like apples antennagate. i would like to see manufactorours have it written into your phone contract that a phone will have the next 2 major updates will be supported and released, anything after that would be a bonus.
wsDK_II
Thursday, March 24, 2011 at 1:32 PMYet another good reason to be with Telstra – I get the update almost as soon as it is released in AU! :)
hugh
Thursday, March 24, 2011 at 1:57 PMunless you have a nokia then they will not do the current pr1.1 pr1.2 update for the nokia n8 ever
Mitch
Thursday, March 24, 2011 at 2:03 PMLucky you, try having an Android with them. The Wildfire still doesn’t have the Froyo update yet. But I just rooted mine and got Froyo on mine myself :)
DAWOOKIE
Thursday, March 24, 2011 at 2:14 PMPeople settle down MS is not lying every one is pasting random statements together in their head and making assumptions.
MS do host and do release the updates once the carrier is happy their is no effects on there network (not there apps). Apps will be fixed for release.
A release will consist of 3 things.
- A firmware update from the handset manufacturer
- MS OS update
- Carrier settings (not software alterations)
The carriers can if they want be one update behind which they are now. So in theory they are in there rights to release it whenever they like until Mango arrives.
Now saying this the carriers and MS will want to get this out ASAP as they want WP7 to be successful. Carriers want as much competition in the market place so people keep swapping to new plans and new phones at end of contract.
I think the carriers are just being overly cautious after the shaky start to the update process. If they had issue with the actual Nodo update then handsets with this update would not be allowed to be sold by the carrier, which Telstra plan on doing next week.
Nicholas
Thursday, March 24, 2011 at 3:58 PMIt still sucks for WP7 users. They were seemingly promised instant updates when MS released them, and now they’re stuck with this; all the while watching all the iOS people get major updates the second they’re available on Apple’s site.
Fair enough for having a delay as manufacturers check compatibility, but I still think it sucks that they need to. The carrier updates are BS though. If Apple can make universal updates for all carriers, why can’t everyone else?
DAWOOKIE
Friday, March 25, 2011 at 7:17 PMApple still do carrier confirmation it is just it is not advertised and completed under the covers.
If at&t had a issue with a Apple update it would not be released until it was fixed.
Apple do have a better foot to stand on with carriers and therefore can be a bit more forceful with carriers than MS.
Nathan
Thursday, March 24, 2011 at 3:24 PMAnother storm in a teacup.
Much bigger problem is the poor battery life on HTC WP7 phones. 1230 mAh battery for the HD7 is a joke.
Guess I’ll wait for a Nokia WP7 device.
Sicarius123
Thursday, March 24, 2011 at 4:28 PMI’m genuinely surprised that Telstra have rolled their update out first.
Temujin Morgan
Friday, March 25, 2011 at 8:20 AMSo where do I get my free upgrade to a HD7 from Telstra. I shouldn’t have to wait and to not have got the Febuary update already is beyond a joke.
Telstra is probably the ONLY carrier to not have the 3.14 update for the HD2, released in Europe in oct LAST YEAR! Seriously Telstra.
Finally the iPhone. All carriers have to beg and grovel to stock the iPhone. Apple could do something detrimental to the network and they would allow it, just ask your local Telstra retailer what extra paperwork they have to do to be able to sell the iPhone.
Adam Smith
Friday, March 25, 2011 at 10:00 AMIsn’t this great – Microsoft have published a table showing which carriers world wide are doing what. Surprise surprise Telsta (& Optus for that matter) are only one of only four carriers delaying these updates or haven’t got it scheduled for release.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsphone/en-us/features/update-schedule-world.aspx
This is a disgrace!
zigby
Friday, March 25, 2011 at 12:45 PMFinally, some visibility that the Mobile Operators are the ones to hold accountable now for delays.
Great to hear Telstra have committed to delivering the copy/paste update by the end of April, most people I think can wait as long as they know how long they have to wait for.
Still, if you can’t wait like me, debranding your phone is pretty damn easy and takes 10 minutes, I did my Mozart and i’ve got the copy/paste update already! See: http://blog.walshie.me/2011/03/23/how-to-remove-the-operator-and-get-your-windows-phone-updates-htc-only/
Mohamed
Saturday, March 26, 2011 at 10:03 PMIsn’t it strange that telestra will be rolling out new phones with Nodo installed but on the otherhand they say they will update the other phones at the end of April because they are “testing” it!!!!
isn’t that a contradiction??? if you are selling phones with Nodo preinstalled, then you know it’s good to go, why delaying the Update for the current users!!!!!
Ryan Naughton
Monday, March 28, 2011 at 11:44 AMI purchased an unbranded handset to avoid any telco delays (as I work for one and know how they operate). Still waiting for my NoDo!
Russell Rhodes
Saturday, April 2, 2011 at 11:46 AMso why do we not get these updates the same time as the rest of the world, Is it Microsoft or the Telcos holding us to ransom?
seems like Telstra doesn’t want anyone else getting the update before they give it to their customers.
Moogas
Monday, April 4, 2011 at 10:55 AMJust updated the phone! I have a HTC Trophy on vodafone and still cant get the update. All you have to do is just disconnect your internet while its looking for the update (see link below) worked a treat. TOOO EASY!!!
http://en.ocworkbench.com/tech/the-simplest-way-to-force-update-windows-phone-7-with-nodo-march-2011-firmware/ NO need
Modtech
Sunday, April 10, 2011 at 11:55 AMOn Optus Post Paid, LG Optimus 7. Got NODO through and installed last night. Weeeeee. Finally.
IT IS possible
OS Version: 7.0.7390.0
Firmware revision number 1.0.2.10
qwert
Thursday, April 28, 2011 at 1:10 AMcan’t wait for mango update. wm7 is brilliant. not counting the number of apps it owns ios and android. damn ios and android are just old windows mobile 6 with a finger instead of a stylus.
Aussie Peter
Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 6:27 PMWell it finally got to my Telstra (network unlocked) HTC Mozart, currently with Vodafone sim. All went well.
Not mentioned in any article is that they played with bluetooth in this update… If not then there must have been some type of HTC phone fix in the update.
Prior to update the HTC was unable to connect to a Uniden wireless phone.
The problem being it didnt recognise the wireless Uniden phone correctly and failed to show the pop up box to put in the pairing pin number..
.After update it found the Uniden wireless phone and correctly popped up the pass pin box for me to enter the code , bingo paired and working…
Was thinking I had to wait for the mango update later in the year to fix this bug….
Well done
Steve
Wednesday, May 18, 2011 at 10:55 AMGot a new Samsung Omnia 7 two weeks ago on Optus. The handset didn’t come with NoDo installed, and to date it’s not updating..
Love the phone, and am looking forward to these updates (esp. Mango!)