Author: Clinton

Foursquare has released a minor update to their Windows Phone app that addresses issues around the app’s Cortana integration.  The update, version 4.1.1.0 for those keeping score at home, has only one issue that is addressed in their release notes: Addresses an issue when opening places for Cortana.  It is not clear how widespread the problem has been or if it was specific to particular devices.  Regardless, if you use the app, get the update to avoid any potential problems.

Foursquare for Windows Phone – Free – Download Now

After months of negotiation behind the scenes, British Telecom (BT) has announced that they are acquiring EE for just over $19b US.  The acquisition takes the UK’s leading mobile provider in EE under the BT umbrella, bringing the telecom giant back into the mobile operator space within the country.  The announcement was posted on the British Telecom site and impacts some 31 million EE customers.

In the post, BT states “By combining the UK’s most advanced 4G network and most extensive superfast broadband network, BT will have greater scope for future investment and product innovation “.  Ultimately this could work out well for consumers as they will be able to combine BT services with their mobile needs under one billing.  This is similar to what AT&T offers as well as Verizon here in the United States.

You can read the full announcement here on the BT website which includes all of the financial details as well as quotes from executives on the matter.

How this ultimately impacts Microsoft and Windows Tablets and Windows Phone carried by EE is still an unknown.  Having just returned from the UK on a two year EXPAT assignment, I can say that if you walked into any EE shop on the High Street you would be able to find multiple Windows Phone models available and they always seemed to get the newest devices sooner than Vodafone, 3 or other carriers.  Hopefully that trend continues under BT.

For those of you who are in the Windows Insider program and are testing the beta of Windows 10, you now can trial the new touch-friendly Office for Windows 10 apps.  The new Word, Excel and PowerPoint are all available in the Windows 10 preview in the Store beta.  This is great news as Microsoft is rapidly pushing out many of the key changes and updates they announced at the Windows 10 event a few weeks ago.  Office for Windows 10 is one of those key announcements with Windows 10 for Phone being the only major one left to be seen.

Word for Windows 10 from the Windows Store Beta

Excel for Windows 10 from the Windows Store Beta

PowerPoint for Windows 10 from the Windows Store Beta

The Weather Channel app for Windows and Windows Phone has received a major overhaul today with an all new redesign and seasonal tools to give you more of your local or destination weather information.  The update version 2015.204.732.3042 for those keeping score at home, brings the Windows Phone version on par with the app on iOS and Android and should be a very welcome sign for users in light of recent announcements of other developers stopping their support for platform.  The updated version of The Weather Channel app is available now in the Windows Phone Store.

The Weather Channel for Windows Phone – Free – Download Now

The Weather Channel for Windows – Free – Download Now

AT&T has posted on Twitter that customers can expect to see the Lumia Denim update for devices on their network “soon”.  The Tweet was a reply to long time Windows Platform Development MVP Ginny Caughey who somewhat sarcastically Tweeted that she would likely see Windows 10 on her Lumia 1520 before Lumia Denim was released.  AT&T apparently was paying attention and replied with this Tweet:

@gcaughey The Denim update is coming soon. We will announce it’s availability on the AT&T Consumer Blog as soon as it’s ready for download.

— AT&T (@ATT) February 3, 2015

It is certainly encouraging to hear that AT&T is looking to release Lumia Denim on the Lumia devices on their network but “soon” is a word that Windows Phone users have heard all too often. Still, we are likely talking weeks now instead of months.

As a reminder, you can read my Guide to Lumia Denim and my Lumia Denim Rollout Guide for more detailed information on the release and the rollout process.

Windows Phone market share increased in some markets globally in Q4 of 2014 according to the research firm Kantar.  The numbers, which make up the last three months of 2014 and are based on phone activations, saw the share go up France, Germany and Australia while the United States, United Kingdom, Italy and Spain all saw Windows Phone share drop.  Overall, the global market share of Windows Phone is at about 2.28% globally according to Net Market Share, which is pretty dismal no matter how you try to spin it.

Windows 10 can’t come fast enough.