Microsoft will eventually start delivering the copy-and-paste update for the Windows Phones in the latter half of March, in an effort to
make the the update process smoother.
The update was initially expected to be delivered earlier, but Microsoft said that it needed some extra time in order to test the changes to its Windows Phone operating system software, make fixes, test the new software with new and updated firmware installed on Windows Phone handsets and also to dispatch the update to the cellular carriers around the world. In addition, Microsoft's carrier partners need some time to test the updated Windows Phone software while they are using it in their own networks, the company added.
Last month, Microsoft
released the first update for the Windows Phones, which was actually enabling the phones to accept the final software update, when ready. However, even this minor update was delayed and the delivery to Windows Phone owners around the world was not smooth at all. Some users have already received it, while others are still expecting for it. Microsoft said that since some updates are hardware-specific, it didn't send every update to every device, while it also didn't send new software updates to everyone at once. This staggered approach is deliberate, and helps Microsoft pinpoint and fix any problems quickly.
Responding to recent speculation on blogs and forums about whether carriers can "block" an update, Microsoft's Eric Hautala said:
"We work closely with carriers to test and schedule updates. They may ask us for a specific date to start an update. They may ask for updates to be bundled together. But you should ultimately receive all the updates we send out."
Besides delivering the copy-and-paste functionality, the
new Windows Phone software offers better Marketplace search and other key improvements.
Microsoft clarified that this delay will have no impact to the timing of future updates, including the one announced recently at Mobile World Congress featuring multitasking, a Twitter feature, and a new HTML 5-friendly version of Internet Explorer Mobile.