Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2010/03/02/windows_7_mobile_upgrade/
Windows Phone 7 blocks out popular HTC model, blames buttons
Other smartphones fail to meet criteria too
Posted in Personal Tech, 2nd March 2010 10:50 GMT
Windows Mobile 6.5 devices will not be upgradeable to Windows Phone 7.
Microsoft confirmed to APCmag.com yesterday that users of popular devices such as the HTC HD2 handset won't upgrade to the company's latest operating system for the mobile network.
Even though the HD2 model meets much of the criteria set out in Redmond's 'Chassis 1' specification, which includes a 1GHz Qualcomm processor chip, high resolution touch display and a 5-megapixel camera, the phone doesn't hit the mark because it has five buttons. Windows Phone 7 devices only have three buttons.
One of the buttons on the HD2 would also need to be a "dedicated search key", which the device doesn't have, Microsoft's Asia-Pacific mobile general manager Natasha Kwan told the online tech mag.
“Because we have very specific requirements for Windows Phone 7 Series the current phones we have right now will not be upgradable,” she said, pointing out that other devices would be similarly blocked out by the OS design specs.
It's not all about the software, either. Microsoft's Australia biz ops director Tony Wilkinson told APC that “there are some hardware components that the HD doesn’t have” too.
However, the software vendor hasn't revealed the full hardware rundown for its Windows Phone 7 devices yet.
Microsoft is expected to release its Windows Phone 7 operating system towards the end of 2010. ®