Nokia is ready to release the Windows Phone 7.8 update, waiting for Microsoft's approval

Nokia has reported that they are ready to release the Windows Phone 7.8 update to Nokia Lumia devices running Windows Phone 7.5. The holdup is being attributed to Microsoft, who have still not given the green light to release the update. Nokia did release the WP7.8 update to select Nokia Lumia 800 devices, but it was later confirmed to be a limited test. The final update is expected to be released during the first quarter for 2013

Even though the final decision to update Windows Phone 7.5 devices to Windows Phone 7.8 remains with Microsoft, it turns out that new Nokia Lumia 800 devices which are being shipped with with Windows Phone 7.8 pre-installed according to Nokia.

With Windows Phone 7.8 beginning to ship pre-loaded on Nokia Lumia smartphones, we will naturally be deploying the software to our factories for product rollout. At present we have no more information we can give about wider availability of the update for phones running Windows Phone 7.5.

Windows Phone 7.8 is a visual update to Windows Phone 7 devices which brings the re sizable tiles from Windows Phone 8 to older devices along with new color themes and the ability to assign the Bing Wallpaper of the Day on your lock-screen  It doesn't offer any features of value like the OTA updates, improved multi-tasking, Xbox integration, Windows 8 integration and more which are exclusive to Windows Phone 8 devices.

We hope that Microsoft and their OEMs understand that Windows Phone 7.8 is in no way capable of competing with any modern smartphone platform, and if OEMs plan to continue to release WP7.8 devices, Microsoft is going to have to put a lot more effort into the platform than what the offering currently is.


source – pocketgamer.biz | DailyMobile.net