Microsoft explains WP7 update delays at MIX11

Microsoft's Joe Belfiore during the MIX11 day two keynote explained the reasons behind the problems in getting out the initial February update and the delays in getting updates out to phones on time. The phone bricking and other issues were triggered by gaps in code between testing phones and those shipping out to factories. In one case, Samsung phones had a firmware flag for use in the factory that, when triggered by the pre-NoDo update, rendered the phone unusable.

The company had "gone through that learning process" and wasn't keen to repeat the problem. Among the solutions would involve bolstering the updating team.

Belfiore went on to imply that AT&T's long NoDo update delays were due to the carrier and not Microsoft. The WP7 developer controlled deploying updates but was subject to when carriers finished their testing to greenlight an app for their networks. A quicker approval process meant Microsoft could get it out sooner, the executive said.

AT&T is one of the few carriers to still say it's in testing and by far the largest. Carrier-independent phones, as well as those in Australia, Canada, Europe, and New Zealand, have for the most part already received their updates. It wasn't clear what was holding the US provider back.

By Electronista Staff

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industry, Microsoft, AT&T, Samsung, mobile phones, Windows Phone 7, NoDo