Existing Windows Phone 7 devices will get updated to Windows Phone 7.8, not Windows 8
by Brian Klug on June 20, 2012 2:00 PM ESTLooks like some of the earlier rumors about the upgrade path for existing WP7 devices turned out to be true. Microsoft just now announced that existing WP7 devices will not get updated to WP8, instead they'll get WP7.8 and a partial update feature set, including the new home screen with customizable live tiles.
We're still waiting to get more details about what other features make it over. Applications made for WP7 and WP8 will continue to work on WP7.8, but users wanting all the rest of the WP8 features will have to get that update in the form of new hardware. Update: Microsoft has clarified, and appliations built for WP8 will not run on WP7.5/7.8 (native C/C++ appliations), we're asking for more details.
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crispbp04 - Wednesday, June 20, 2012 - link
Looking forward to WP7.8 on my Titan and Lumia.I'll move to WP8 when Verizon releases a Pureview based WP8 device.
Patflute - Wednesday, June 20, 2012 - link
Looks terrible.inket - Wednesday, June 20, 2012 - link
Apps using native code won't run on WP7.8.Malih - Wednesday, June 20, 2012 - link
So that made me postpone my plan to purchase a new Lumia, I'll just stick to my ICS device.Ethaniel - Wednesday, June 20, 2012 - link
I guess they never truly learn...crispbp04 - Wednesday, June 20, 2012 - link
This is not considered fragmentation. Fragmentation occurs when you have several different incompatible software versions capable of running on the SAME hardware platform.This is the exact opposite. NFC is a core feature of WP8 and WP7 devices don't qualify to run it.
It's not even worth explaining any further.
bplewis24 - Wednesday, June 20, 2012 - link
That exact same circumstance happens on Android, and people scream "FRAGMENTATION" to anybody that will listen.Articuno - Wednesday, June 20, 2012 - link
Replace "Android 2.2/2.3" with "WP7" and "Android 4.0" with "WP8" and nothing changes.What a joke current Microsoft is.
zorxd - Wednesday, June 20, 2012 - link
Except that many android 2.3 phones were upgraded to 4. Not a single WP7 will be upgraded to WP8.Tegeril - Wednesday, June 20, 2012 - link
"Many" is not the word you were looking for.