Microsoft: no Windows Phone 7 for HD2

Both Microsoft and Palm have had a strange love-hate relationship with OS updates for existing devices – while Palm initially offered loads of them and then gave up, Microsoft so far allowed OEMs to decide.

HTC was apparently hell-bent on getting a WM7 update for its HD2. Unfortunately, it looks like this won’t happen after all. apc reports the following:

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Despite the HD2 meeting many of the criteria laid down in Microsoft’s ‘Chassis 1’ spec – including a 1GHz Qualcomm processor, high-res capacitive touch display, 5 megapixel camera and 3.5mm headphone jack – the phone will be ruled out for the simple reason that it has five buttons instead of the three mandated for all Windows Phone 7 devices.

That’s the official line from Microsoft, at any rate. Natasha Kwan, General Manager for Microsoft’s Mobile Communications Business in the Asia-Pacific region, told APC that the HD2 “doesn’t qualify because it doesn’t have the three buttons”.

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If you ask me, this is nothing short of a boneheaded move. It puts the entire economy into “hibernation” until WM7 devices drop – lovely, lovely…

Related posts:

1. Microsoft will introduce a low-end Windows Phone 7 chassis
2. Microsoft: don’t unlock your Windows Phone
3. Microsoft shows first screenshots of Windows Phone 7 games
4. Microsoft recruits employees as Windows Phone 7 coders
5. Microsoft: Windows Phone 7 on all UK operators