Verizon has final Denim update for Icon - they won't release it
iconowner
Enthusiast - Level 2

I am a Lumia Icon owner, and have been waiting patiently (now impatiently) for the Windows 8.1 update to the phone. So, in a fit of frustration, I filed a complaint in December with the FCC, and I wrote emails to many of the top Verizon Wireless brass, complaining of the treatment of Icon owners. Lo and behold, I received both emails and phone calls from the Verizon corporate office. I spoke to a woman (I won't name her name for now) from the Verizon corporate office prior to Christmas, who confirmed that Verizon had the Denim update for the Icon and was on the verge of releasing it. I then spoke with her after Christmas and before New Years. She indicated that I should be able to get the Denim update at that point. I told her that manual updates were not showing the Denim update available.

Here is the kicker. She told me that she had her Icon in her hand, and it had been updated to Windows 8.1, in fact the Denim update. Being the doubtful person that I am, I told her she may actually have a Nokia 928 and not the Icon. She went into her settings to confirm that her phone was a Nokia 929 (which is the Icon). She also confirmed in her settings that it was the Denim update, and that she had updated manually (using Phone Update). This was right before New Years.

She told me that Verizon's process is that they first release the update for manual updates, and then 3 to 4 weeks later they push it to the phones. She said that the Denim update she had was final, and should be available immediately to Icon owners who do a manual update, and in 3 to 4 weeks (towards the end of January) it would be pushed out to all of the Icon phones automatically. All of this conversation went on before New Years.

Well, we still don't have it. But it's clear that Verizon has had it in its final form for several weeks. They simply won't release it. Is it possible for Verizon Wireless to treat its customers with more contempt than they are doing now?

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43 Replies
LumiaIconUser
Contributor - Level 1

Well it's Friday, and it doesn't appear that the update has been released.

grafixguy
Contributor - Level 2

Shocking.

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jeffindayton
Enthusiast - Level 3

Friday isn't over yet! (but it still won't be released, its Verizon)

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grafixguy
Contributor - Level 2

At this point I won't be shocked to see the phone go EOL without any update at all.

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Vistary
Newbie

because it's a flagship, so we will get nothing lol

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LumiaIconUser
Contributor - Level 1

The longer this goes on, the less reason there is for VZW to care.

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grafixguy
Contributor - Level 2

LumiaIconUser wrote:

The longer this goes on, the less reason there is for VZW to care.

They never cared.

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OldPirate
Enthusiast - Level 3

Version told me on the 2nd that it wold release the 6th. Yesterday they saw in their notes what I had been told, but now I am told TBA. I have been a customer of theirs since 1992. I have about had enough.

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Vistary
Newbie

They always lied, they don't care

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LumiaIconUser
Contributor - Level 1

OK OldPirate, looks like you've got a phone call or two to make.

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grafixguy
Contributor - Level 2

<< Comments removed to comply with Verizon Wireless Terms of Service >>

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WP10Please
Newbie

The odd part of this puzzle is that they are the only North America carrier to have pushed out Denim, and they have done it to all models apart from the Icon:

http://www.microsoft.com/en/mobile/support/software-update/wp8-software-update/availability-in-north...

Also I don't understand why I don't have "hey Cortana" or access to "Lumia Camera v5" when I have "preview for developers" enabled.  My wife has an AT&T Lumia 1520 and she can download Lumia Camera v5 from the store (it fails to run because she still has Cyan).

It looks like Microsoft haven't released these new features for the Icon more that Verizon holding them back from us.  If Microsoft could release it on the Icon they would have through "Preview for Developers", but they haven't

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tsax6010
Newbie

It is not a matter of Microsoft releasing features like Hey Cortana or Lumia Camera 5 independently of Verizon as this is not technically possible. These applications rely on base firmware to be in place in order to take advantage of features in the hardware (notably the Snapdragon 800 CPU) - in this case Denim.

Denim โ‰  OS or Application updates

Denim = Firmware

Firmware = Drivers

Firmware cannot be pushed without carrier approval since it includes radio components. Until Verizon approves the firmware, even developer preview users of the OS upgraded to 8.1 cannot take advantage of new hardware specific features. In essence the Icon on DP is as functional as the 928 and other phones will ever be that do not have the snapdragon 800 - these older phones will never get Hey Cortana as they do not support passive listening at a hardware level.

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grafixguy
Contributor - Level 2

WP10Please wrote:

The odd part of this puzzle is that they are the only North America carrier to have pushed out Denim, and they have done it to all models apart from the Icon:

That is Denim in name only. Those phones do not take advantage of any of the hardware/firmware specific features of Denim. Anyone running the PfD version of Windows Phone 8.1update 1 on those phones would notice no difference in the official push.

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RustyinPA
Enthusiast - Level 1

I saw on Twitter that the Verizon Denim was going to be released this week, maybe. I am really concerned with Verizon, I have noticed that they pulled/dropped all the Lumia phones from their store and even on the Microsoft Store; the only Windows phone is the HTC. I like the Lumia phones and upgraded from the lumia 520 for the Icon, if I had to do it over again I would not do it. The next phone is going to be a BlackBerry, it seems like they know how to treat their customers they have better security phone features and cool looking new phones. I think AT&T is going to carry the new Passport along with the Classic, soon as they offer it; it is good bye Verizon. I am thinking of switching my home phone, internet to AT&T as well, just for treating us Icon owners like DOGS.

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grafixguy
Contributor - Level 2

RustyinPA wrote:

I saw on Twitter that the Verizon Denim was going to be released this week, maybe.

Link?

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dmbeam
Newbie

Last night, I was alerted to an update on my Icon.  I went ahead and the update was a long one.  I immediately checked to see if it was 8.1 and it was not.  I'm assuming it was denim because of the length of the download; but don't know how to confirm.

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primortal
Master - Level 1

If you go to settings, tap about, tap more info the Firmware revision number should start with 3051.50009.

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dmbeam
Newbie

The firmware # starts 1028.3566 etc.

I guess it isn't denim.  The download was major.  It took over 10 minutes and the screen had the two gears rotating to show something was happening.

What could it have been?

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OldPirate
Enthusiast - Level 3

I donโ€™t know, but if you go to the last item in โ€œsettingsโ€ and click on it youโ€™ll see your phone status and the software installed.  More than likely it still says โ€œBlackโ€.

<< Signature information removed to comply with Verizon Wireless Terms of Service >>

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primortal
Master - Level 1

When's the last time you did you manually check for an update?

If you're in the Preview for Developer Program you might have gotten an update MS released early December, Build 14219 For Those in the Preivew for Developers Program Has Been Released

If you aren't in the Preview for Developers Program you might have gotten a the minor firmware update VZW released back on 5/7/14

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