Data from AdDuplex shows that almost 50% of all devices on the platform will miss the Windows 10 Mobile update, even though Microsoft promised the upgrade for several handsets.
Microsoft is coming under criticism for its roster of devices being updated to Windows 10 Mobile, with most agreeing that the company is simply not supporting enough smartphones with the newest Windows build.
Last week Windows 10 Mobile arrived on devices that were running Windows Phone 8 or lower, and Microsoft is in the firing line because the company is not updating some Lumia handsets it previously promised to.
The company had previously said it would update the Lumia 1020 and Lumia 920 would be getting the bump to Windows 10 Mobile, but actually those handsets have not been treated to the update.
It actually gets worse, as nearly 50% of all devices running Windows will not be getting Windows 10 Mobile at all, according to numbers from AdDuplex.
Considering many handsets on the platform are entry level or underpowered, it is understandable why they will not be getting the update. However, the Lumia 1020 and Lumia 920 are a mystery. The 920 was the flagship that kicked off the Windows Phone 8 era in November 2012, while the 1020 was a camera-centric smartphone that launched July 2013.
Sure, both devices are aging, but Apple supports its smartphones even if they are five years old (iPhone 4S), while even the hugely fragmented Android platform supports devices from 2012/2013. Microsoft has more control over OEM's than Google does on Android, but somehow the company is not updating a plethora of smartphones that should be eligible for the upgrade.
Reddit is littered with disgruntled Windows users, particularly those who own the Blu Jr, a device that launched last year. On first sight, its specs and age make it a prime candidate for Windows 10 Mobile, and Microsoft seemed to agree. The company sells the Blu Jr on its Windows Store and has been promising that it would indeed get to Windows 10 Mobile.
But as Neowin points out correctly, “the device only has 4GB of onboard storage, and Microsoft's own documentation revealed in late August that handsets with such a small amount of storage would not be able to upgrade to the new OS.” Why both Microsoft and BLU continued to market and sell the device as being eligible for upgrade to Windows 10 Mobile, remains unclear.
So, it´s needless to say, that this is a controvery Microsoft and its poorly performing platform could do without, but unfortunately the company has a history of this sketchy updating.
As it stands, Microsoft is updating a bunch of devices to Windows 10 Mobile, so if you own one of the following you are good to go:
Lumia 1520, 930, 640, 640XL, 730, 735, 830, 532, 535, 540, 635 1GB, 636 1GB, 638 1GB, 430, 435, BLU Win HD w510u, BLU Win HD LTE x150q, and the MCJ Madosma Q501.
SOURCE: AdDuplex (twitter)
Once again a call for the obvious. A Loyalty reward program is a quick and equitable solution.
It is very expensive for Microsoft and terrible for the ecosystem to keep a fragmented WP8 option in place. A cost effective tradeup program that steeply discounts new W10Mobile devices for stranded users for short time, ends up less expensive than continuing the dead end. Transitioning to W10Mobile via incentive program retains users, builds positive sentiment, and gets them to #OneCore & #UWP unity.
Hopefully some additional evaluation can be done on Snapdragon S4 era flagships (92X, 1020), and the HTC One m8, and Lumia Icon. A two pronged approach to open up the device criteria slightly and positively incentivize other dead end devices to trade up.
The imperative mission here is positively retaining as many users as possible and transitioning them to the current #OneCore and #UWP ecosystem of Windows 10.
Once again a call for the obvious. A Loyalty reward program is a quick and equitable solution.
It is very expensive and terrible for the ecosyst