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Nokia has defended its existing Lumia phones, following news that the recent mobiles won’t be updated to Windows Phone 8.
Speaking to the Verge, Nokia’s Kevin Shields (the guy you may remember for making everyone jump during the Lumia 800’s unveiling) said the Finnish company was doing “more than enough” for current owners, who will be left out in the cold when Microsoft’s new operating system launches.
“I think that ultimately your typical customer probably isn’t all that aware of this upgrade thing,” Shields added.
Shields defended the 4.3-inch Nokia Lumia 900, which went on sale in the UK just over a month ago, and will be running an out-of-date operating system once Windows 8 launches in the autumn.
“I definitely think with products like the Lumia 900, where a consumer walks in and buys that product they’re getting great value and they’re getting a great offering that’s gonna have a long lifetime of innovation.”
Shields said he “feels really good” about recommending the Lumia 900.
Nokia has been put in a tricky position by Microsoft. There’s four months to go until Windows Phone 8 comes out, and I can’t imagine many people — if they’re aware of the update — wanting to snap up a current Lumia device in that time.
Existing Windows Phone devices will be getting a revamped home screen, but apps developed for Windows Phone 8 won’t be compatible with current models. Desktop Windows 8 apps will be very easy to port to Windows Phone 8, Microsoft promises, which is expected to lead to a boom in the number of apps on Windows Phone’s hitherto sparsely populated Marketplace.
I’ve seen outrage from commenters and industry bods alike over Microsoft’s exclusion of current phones, and while I can see that the news is a kick in the guts for gadget fans who bought into the operating system early, Shields’ comments raise a question over whether ordinary mobile-buying folks are really fussed about software updates.
I’d agree that most mobile owners aren’t too preoccupied with which version of Android, iOS or whathaveyou their phones are running, just as long as they’re working properly. That said, with Microsoft’s operating system still very new, a much larger percentage of Windows Phone owners will be the kind of enthusiastic gadgeteers who value having access to the latest, greatest version.
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