Support continues to Sept 2014 for WP7.8 and July 2014 for WP8.0 (Hurry up, 8.5 so cycle resets :) )

The table above from Microsoft indicates that WP7.8 will continue to receive support until 9.9.2014 whilst WP8 will be supported until 7.8.2014.

Microsoft will make updates available for the Operating System on your phone, including security updates, for a period of 18 months after the lifecycle start date. Distribution of the updates may be controlled by the mobile operator or the phone manufacturer from which you purchased your phone. Update availability will also vary by country, region, and hardware capabilities.

Could we still get WP7.9? Of course WP8 still has variants to come (8.1? 8.5? 8.8 that would likely each receive further support from MS, although of course, this is MS we’re talking about where common sense can’t be taken for granted. They have at least however, confirmed that current gen WP8 will get the next major update. WP8.5 is said to be in the works.

With a recent job posting indicating testing for WP9 on Nokia devices, there’s a chance, as Keith suggested, that we might see WP9 earlier than we think.

This also means we could see Windows Phone 9 by the end of the year, and I think they will update the current WP8 devices to WP9 since the support cycle is only for the software, rather than the hardware.

Am I hopeful? Ha, of course not, this is Microsoft we’re talking about. I’m jaded by past (lack of) performance from the WP team – it could be that they’re going to pull a lot out of the bag, what with the next major update being super  secret (and supposedly going to be available closer to the announcement than ever before).

Please prove us all wrong

Sources: Microsoft / WMPU

Cheers Keith for the tip!

Category: Lumia, Nokia