Microsoft is rolling out WP7 updates to SIM-free phones first

SOFTWARE DEVELOPER Microsoft has said that its 'copy and paste' Windows Phone 7 (WP7) update is only being sent to those who got their devices SIM-free.

Microsoft's Eric Hautala revealed that phones that are "open market", meaning those that are not branded or customised for a particular mobile operator, are being sent the WP7 update. Hautala claimed that the next phase of the WP7 rollout process will see the update being available to a "broader range of customers", though Hautala would not give specifics on dates or what he meant by a broader range of customers.

The so-called 'copy and paste' update is Microsoft's first major update for WP7 devices and the admission that it, like Google, has to wait for operators to tinker with updates before sending them out will be a major disappointment to WP7 users. Microsoft had a chance of one-upping Google if it managed to roll out WP7 updates within a matter of weeks to all devices, something that Google has struggled with for its Android operating system.

While a staggered rollout is standard procedure, Microsoft's admission that some mobile operators are still testing the update will dishearten users.

Microsoft has produced a table of each operator's current update status with British operators, O2 and Orange, still scheduling the delivery of the update. Surprisingly, O2's Spanish parent company, Telefonica is still testing the update in Spain, meaning there might not be consistency between global operators and their national operations.

Given that Microsoft, O2 and Orange have yet to announce when the next phase of its WP7 update rollout will commence, those Brits who have bought 'closed market' WP7 devices will have to wait to get the update. µ