Windows Phone 8.1 & Cyan Firmware - When?

[CmdrRom]

I'm seeing many threads on this topic, and I have to add my voice to this matter.

I'm personally sick and tired of waiting for the official release of this firmware when it's been made available to your company by Microsoft since July. Furthermore, without 8.1 being released on VZW officially, users who have opted to not participate in the Developer Preview are being punished. There are ads running that promote Cortana, but that basic feature is NOT available until official Cyan updates are pushed.

So my big question: When are VZW customers going to get these updates? Silence on the matter is only going to fuel animosity.

[whereisthe8_1update]

I'm really glad to see that I'm not the only who is genuinely pissed about this problem... right on dude.

[Norcalsteve22]

I came on here to ask customer support, but seen all the threads. I guess this is a problem. My phone acted up after the 8.1.1 Dev preview, so I reverted thinking the official Cyan/8.1 was released, or going to be. How the heck is it October already, and Verizon has not even release this yet? The Dev worked fine. Maybe Verizon is so damn rich they are actually cheap as hell to their employee's, therefore have only one tester hired part time.

Ridiculous... T-Mobile is looking mighty enticing! 

[#4]

Good luck at your new provider.

[hello62]

Well, my phone still works.  I don't have a problem with not having Cyan yet.  My problem is with Microsoft.  Their marketing team should be fired for making a promise they've yet to deliver on.  It really comes down to being realistic with the updates.  I've been seeing Cortana commercials for 4 months.  Overall the Windows Phone community is very dedicated to the product, so to promise something and not deliver should be a big area of embarrassment for Microsoft.  I don't fault Verizon.  It lays on the shoulders of Microsoft for not being able to coordinate the handful of US carriers to deliver on their promise.

[op2388]

Microsoft did its due diligence by releasing the Cyan update to all carriers on the same date. The issue is Verizon having listed the ICON as 8.1 ready with promises of the update in late summer and not so much as giving any indication as to when or if it will release said update. How do you know Microsoft hasn't been in contact with Verizon? Maybe Verizon just isn't interested in listening to Microsoft's voicemails.

[RiptideLA]

I don't blame Microsoft, they released the update to all carriers at the same time. ATT has pushed the update, Verizon has not. Simple.

Blame Verizon.

Where I live, in the middle of a major city, I can choose any carrier and have fine reception. ATT, Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint - doesn't really matter.

I switched to Verizon to buy the Icon in June, with the promise of a summer update to 8.1. Promise - FAIL.

[Alexvrb]

hello62 wrote:

I don't fault Verizon.  It lays on the shoulders of Microsoft for not being able to coordinate the handful of US carriers to deliver on their promise.

You're kidding right? You expect Microsoft to NOT ADVERTISE something you can get on new WP 8.1 phones which are available for purchase?? Because Verizon is dragging their feet? Incredible! Verizon apologists out in force!

[Tidbits]

Motorola and HTC can do it...  They are small market manufacturers much like Nokia is.  So how are they able to do it and no other manufacturer can't?

[Scott_L]

I originally owned a Lumia 928 from its launch, then when I found out that it was not going to be able to take full advantage of the Windows 8.1 update I upgraded to the ICON.  Only to find out that the ICON does not support Glance. This situation is further exacerbated by the fact that VZW has completely left their customers hanging on a line out to dry waiting for an update that has been delivered to their biggest competitor AT&T over a month ago.

For years I have been able to fend off my kids chirping for an apple phone by providing hardware and user experiences that were fresh and engaging. My entire household (4 lines) use the Windows Phone platform and I am now hearing rumblings that the IP 6 is what they want and I hate the idea of moving to the apple business model.

HELLO MCFLY (VZW)!

Please come down off your IP 6 addiction and take care of your customers who PAID for a device sold and serviced by your company.   

p.s. and you wonder why the windows phone is not more popular.  it is because of the total lack of commitment by the carriers.

[#11]

[Quote]

HELLO MCFLY (VZW)!

Please come down off your IP 6 addiction and take care of your customers who PAID for a device sold and serviced by your company.  

[/quote]

Makes no difference that you bought from Verizon as a retailer. Just like best buy or Walmart or Costco etc. And they do not service your phone. It is serviced by the device makers.

Verizon wireless sell you a connection to the cellular and data network. That is it. Period!

Verizon does not make devices they do not warrantee the devices they act as tech support when you have problems with their cellular and data network with your own working device.

Right Biff ?

[SickFreak]

Elector

Verizon wireless sell you a connection to the cellular and data network. That is it. Period!

Verizon does not make devices they do not warrantee the devices they act as tech support when you have problems with their cellular and data network with your own working device.

Then why wait for VZW to release the firmware?  If the devices had nothing to do with the carriers, we'd be able to download anything and everything directly from the OEM.

But that's not happening, even though that's exactly what should be happening - the OEM updates the devices and we only go to a carrier based on their services.

[Tidbits]

You actually are but people believe they are coming from the carriers. I am willing to bet when you finally download the update it will be from Nokia/MS servers, but everyone will assume it's from Verizon.

I am going to use Symbian...  When that was popular ALL updates came from their servers, and people believed then it came from their respective carriers.

[SeraphX2]

I really am sick of seeing you commenting on something you obviously don't understand.

Verizon has made it a rule that they have to approve firmware updates to the phone before they can be deployed to a Windows Phone.  Verizon received 8.1 and the Cyan update at the same time every other carrier has and has, to date, failed to deliver on a single one of either of those updates.

So, yes, it *is* their fault that this is happening and they are definitely the ones to complain to.  They have neutered the WP experience for *all* of its users who haven't gone to the Developer Preview that Microsoft provides.  Users can get 8.1 with the Preview, but MS, contractually, cannot give Preview users firmware updates.

VZW has now, after a mere 8 months, discontinued the only high-end phone (until the M8 One is released) that Nokia/MS has on their network.  I was promised 8.1 by VZW because they touted it as being 8.1 ready.  I still have not received that.  They also have not approved the Cyan update that only they can provide.

Stop defending a company that is blatantly and obviously trying to destroy WP and degrading my phone experience just because they want to be a bunch of jackasses to MS and their userbase.

[Tidbits]

Good luck with that. Welcome to the android world... Yet manufacturers are actually starting to deliver updates in a timely matter regardless of what special device is coming out. Also manufacturers are becoming more and more transparent. I still don't see why Nokia can't do the same. Maybe they are afraid of backlash?

[Tidbits]

Hey look...  talk about transparency...  You can see things that Nokia/MS is hiding...  You can tell exactly in what phases the manufacturers is in...

One (M8) with Lollipop spotted in Bluetooth docs, as HTC promises speedy updates

So how is it that HTC can have things easy to find for certification.  Sony does the same, and Motorola does the same too for Android.  They even jump in and said updates within 90days...  IF carriers had so much power and can stop updates from happening like people think...  WHY would these manufacturers make the claims like they do?  Doesn't add up to me.

Like I said earlier... We need to stop blaming the carriers and start doing what Europe is doing and blaming manufacturer.  These 3 companies were affect by how Europe sales, and complaints hurt their respective business'.  They changed how they do things and became more transparent while not hiding behind carriers.  Currently these companies are doing and taking claim on the update processes.   Let's move forward people and try what is actually bringing in the fish!

[SeraphX2]

The reason Verizon is being blamed in this instance is because VZW controls when the updates come out.

Nokia/MS cannot release the 8.1/Cyan update to users because they have no control over firmware update releases.

If you joined the Developer Preview, you could get 8.1 since it is the software OS updates, but you still cannot get Cyan until VZW approves it.

Per the contract, MS is not allowed to provide final Firmware updates without VZW approval.  That is why the Lumia Cyan firmware update for Nokia phones is not on any Verizon phone but is on plenty of other carrier's phones.

What don't you get about that?

If you want to understand how the system works, here is a response from MS that explains why WP users are waiting for their update: Cyan for Dev Preview - Microsoft Community

If you go down to the first post by Mike Mongeau, you can see he says: "we are not able to offer the firmware component (i.e. Cyan) until it's been approved through the operator channel".  Operator Channel = Carrier = Verizon.

If you go here, you can see that not a single VZW device has been approved for the 8.1/Cyan update.

[Tidbits]

Then how are other manufacturers able to do what Nokia can't do?  Come let's be serious here.  Companies are making bold statements if Verizon can withhold updates...  If it was out of manufacturers control then wouldn't be making such claims.

[SeraphX2]

Apple refuses to let carriers mess with their phones.  Once they became popular and Verizon could get in on the action, it would be financial suicide not to take the phone under Apple's rules.  Apple controlled the game because they were big and they were the only one.  AT&T took the plunge because they were a company falling apart and the iPhone saved them financially.

The first Android phone on Verizon was November 2009.  If Google demanded restrictions be raised, then Verizon could do nothing but comply because iPhone was still exclusive to AT&T and they needed a smartphone.

WP7 was released in Oct 2010, but refused to carry one.

Verizon didn't get iPhone until 2011, and at this time, iPhone was still the biggest smartphone.

By the time they picked up their first WP phones 2 years ago, the smartphone market was flooded enough that to become a new competitor, VZW had nothing to lose by demanding some control.  They had done it for years on their dumbphones, and they really wanted control.  The only reason VZW didn't initially have iPhone is because they gave up on the bid for iPhone because they wouldn't be allowed to control it (no one could predict how popular smartphones would become at that time and VZW still had their practices they wanted to retain).

There is no reason for MS to say that VZW is in charge of approvals unless it's true.  There is no discernible ulterior motive that can be gained other than shifting blame, but there is no reason to do that because it is something that could easily be discovered by VZW simply saying they aren't the ones holding it up.  Have you seen such a claim from VZW that they don't have to approve it?  Probably not since one doesn't exist.

It also stands to reason since the update is available for other phones on other carriers and VZW is the only holdout, that there is something the carriers are doing to hold it back.  MS released the Developer Preview so people who were not getting software updates (since official final releases of the OS bundle the software and firmware together) could at least get those.  Microsoft has been generous in letting the Developer Preview users have as much as they can dish out.  Why would an update that is running perfectly fine on other phones other carriers be exclusively deniedfrom phones on only particular carriers (TMo [tho TMobile has announced their phones are getting updated soon] and VZW) if the carriers had nothing to do with it?

[Tidbits]

Again like other manufactures including apple...  Apple purposely withhold updates for their devices to update all the devices at once.  They are not immune to the carrier testing process.  Join their ADC program and you can see when Apple is done with actually updating certain devices and exactly when.  So show me exactly any factual evidence that it is in fact done and Verizon has it.  Where's the statement from Nokia saying so? Where's the BT sig, WiFi certification, or FCC approval papers because under Nokia obscure update page those are part of where Nokia is supposedly at...

Just because the update is on another carrier doesn't mean it is finished for others...  A manufacturer can stick to their guns and force carriers to take it or leave it.  Apple has done it, and Google has done it.  See Nexus 6.

HTC limited what they are willing to do for carriers, as well as Motorola.  They also showing their schedules in a transparent as can be without violating any NDA, or trade secrets.

In a T-Mobile thread on their forums there are points where Nokia was the one giving out the dates and T-Mobile regurgitated what Nokia told people in an email.  Since Nokia released that information it is not under any NDA...  It was probably some Nokia rep who didn't have a clue and threw any information whether true or false to get rid of the person(s).

All in all T-Mobile actually issued a statement where they can neither confirm nor deny anything about the update for their Windows Phone devices.  They suggested asking Nokia for further information.  People asked and Nokia has not responded and it's been 3 weeks since people started doing that...

[SeraphX2]

Nokia IS Microsoft now and I just showed you where one of the Microsoft employees that is privy to the release process said that we are waiting for VZW approval.

Did you not read what I posted at all?