Microsoft and Verizon Working On Lumia Cyan Update

Months behind their competition, Verizon and Microsoft are finally working on the Lumia Cyan update for customers.  The news comes from Microsoft’s Joe Belfiore via his Twitter account where in two separate Tweets gives everyone an update on the update for Verizon customers.

In the first Tweet, Belfiore states that Lumia Cyan is coming to Verizon but it will be “farther off”

Joe Belfiore Tweet on VerizonThis isn’t great news for Verizon customers given that AT&T has Lumia Cyan and Windows Phone 8.1 out on their devices and T-Mobile will have it out on all of their devices shortly.    Still, I suppose it is progress.  It’s the second Tweet however that made me really scratch my head.

Joe Belfiore Tweet on Verizon 2Look, I understand the need to test, retest and double-check your testing of software.  I work for a software company and it is part of the routine.  I get it.  But seriously, to say this is being caused by Verizon taking quality seriously is just a joke.  The vast majority of the carriers in the world have managed to sort out build quality.  Why is it taking Verizon so long?

I posted a few weeks ago that Verizon was negatively impacting the Windows Phone story in the United States.  The lack of updates and now the notion that the delay is because they are concerned about quality is ludicrous.  I’m just not buying it.  You combine this with dropping of the Lumia Icon from Verizon’s line up and… yeah, I just feel for those of you on Verizon who use Windows Phone (and to a lesser extent Android).  Personally, I’m moving back to the United States in a few weeks and Verizon isn’t even on the consideration list.  I wish they were but even with all their faults, AT&T supports Windows Phone better.

If Verizon got it together and really got behind Windows Phone, it would be great for them and the market.  I want competition between them, AT&T, T-Mobile and the other smaller providers in the US.  I really do.  Competition is a good thing.

Equally, while it is good to see a senior person from Microsoft acknowledging that work is going on with Verizon, I do blame Microsoft a bit for this as well.  As I put in my article a few weeks ago, they should have pushed the point with the carrier to get this update out.  Maybe they have now which is why we are seeing some progress made on it.

Hopefully my friends on Verizon your wait will be short and Lumia Cyan will be on your Windows Phone in a matter of days or weeks.

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