According to a new report, reps from Microsoft’s PR company Waggener Edstrom are confirming with certainty that Windows Phone 8, otherwise known under the code name Apollo will be made available to current generation Windows Phone 7 devices. This stands in contrast to another previous report by noted pundit Paul Thurrott that stated that Windows Phone 7 devices would not be updated at all and that they would essentially be left behind, with WP8/Apollo requiring new devices.
Of interest in this report is the claim that more detailed leaks will surface in the coming weeks that will corroborate the initial claim and confirm once and for all Microsoft’s position on updating current Windows Phone 7 devices, as the the software giant’s current relative silence on the issue has been the subject of much speculation for and against the updates.
Currently, Microsoft is experiencing a sort of resurgence with Windows Phone 7 in the US thanks to its concerted push to sell the Lumia series with partner Nokia, which culminated in the launch of the Lumia 900 for AT&T last month. Since then, many AT&T and Nokia reps have hailed the success of the Lumia 900 as the beacon for the success of Windows Phone that was sorely lacking before the partnership was formalized last year that led to the development of the Lumia series.
However, the continued silence on the issue of Windows 8 updates for Windows Phone 7 devices will only continue to hamper the momentum being experienced by the platform, as many are putting off purchases until a firm answer is provided one way or the other.The report citing Waggener Edstrom reps as the source for the confirmation is also curious, even though the company has worked with Microsoft for over 25 years, there is currently no evidence to suggest that Microsoft would allow the company to plant leaks on this level, as any previous statements and subsequent corrections outside of those made by pundits and others have come directly from Microsoft themselves and not through their PR firm.
