[HoosierDaddy]

I made a thread in the m8 windows section because I was curious if they still get updates on the phone since it is mo longer solder by tmobile(and despite the fact it's an HTC) because this worried me now. I want to know my 640 will get updated despite it not being carried and if I stay with tmobile I want to know my flagship will.

I am really cconsidering going back home to att go phone. The same phone plan with tmobile at $50 is $5 less with att and for $5 more I can get rollover and more data. Not to mention I miss my 640 XL as my main device tbh as the 640 is so small to me.

My main reason for switching to tmobile as because I liked the company stance on the industry and also because where I live att coverage sucked without microcell which forced me to keep a contract where I can at least always use tmobile as far as wifi calling.

But I am also one to choose which carrier best supports my preferred smartphone Os

Don't jump from one frying pan into another. Buying a phone from any carrier is not a good idea. In the sane parts of the world, people buy their phones from stores that sell phones and other items and buy their bandwidth from carriers. The US understands the concept. I mean we don't buy our cars from gas stations. Not sure why our collective heads are so thick regarding phones. As for your specific issue, AT&T has a different SKU for one GoPhone and a different SKU for an identical phone that isn't a GoPhone. No way for a owner who bought used to even tell which one they have. But guess what? AT&T updates one of the SKUs and not the other. Don't go looking for a master with a softer whip. Break the cycle.

[ven07]

Not sure why our collective heads are so thick regarding phones

I think it has to do with pricing? while im all for buying phones off contract, it can be a bit daunting. iPhones for example would cost you roughly $600 or more off contract, but with a contract you get to pay it off in smaller installments. In most cases this ends being a bit more costly than if you buy the phone outright, but people tend to ignore that.. (that's my view anyways)

[anon(6078578)]

No keep buying them :) Those 2 things I am happy with....maybe if you buy your 3rd, I can hope Microsoft will stop relying on crap OEMs who don't push their products to help the platform and say F U to then and release a badass device without worrying about stepping on toes.

(I sometimes wonder if that is why Microsoft is doing the way they do...so their OEMs don't whine and if tha tis the case, can we truly blame Microsoft for half the stuff they do?)

At this point I'm going to keep my Lumia 640 for a while to see how the Windows Phone story plays out. I want to see if universal apps really do make a difference or not. In my opinion, I can't see it making a difference with apps that only make sense on a mobile and not a desktop device in the first place ie the infamous Starbucks app just to use a simple example. I want to see if the new leadership at Microsoft really is a game changer or they'll end up reverting to their old ways once the honeymoon period is over.

I'm not a flagship buyer so won't be buying the upcoming 950/950XL (or whatever they're finally going to be called) so will be sticking with the Lumia 640 for a while to see if Microsoft are serious about keeping a mobile presence. I don't mean just flagships but whether they really will bring out further quality mid to low end models like the 640. I don't mind being part of a niche market but it's not worth my while to invest a lot of money in a high end device which personally won't give me any more benefit than a low/mid tier device.

[anon(6078578)]

I think it has to do with pricing? while im all for buying phones off contract, it can be a bit daunting. iPhones for example would cost you roughly $600 or more off contract, but with a contract you get to pay it off in smaller installments. In most cases this ends being a bit more costly than if you buy the phone outright, but people tend to ignore that.. (that's my view anyways)

It didn't help that tech websites would often compare contract phone prices with unlocked phone prices in such a way as it seemed like they were saying "why buy this mid range phone for $200 when you can get this high end phone for $199", when the $200 phone was full price and the $199 phone was a contract phone that really cost $700. Therefore the $200 was the one that was really the bargain for what you got, even though it seemed like you were only paying $199 for the much better phone.

[ven07]

It didn't help that tech websites would often compare contract phone prices with unlocked phone prices in such a way as it seemed like they were saying "why buy this mid range phone for $200 when you can get this high end phone for $199", when the $200 phone was full price and the $199 phone was a contract phone that really cost $700. Therefore the $200 was the one that was really the bargain for what you got, even though it seemed like you were only paying $199 for the much better phone.

Some might even say this was done on purpose :D

[anon(6078578)]

Some might even say this was done on purpose :D

I don't know if it was done on purpose but I'm sure I noticed many a time they didn't mention that it was actually a contract price. Of course it may simply be a side effect of the fact that until recent years, all prices were assumed to be contract prices.

[HoosierDaddy]

Some might even say this was done on purpose :D

It was. Those sites want to garner favor or income from carriers. And WC is in that boat. I have lost count of the headlines or article contents that imply the carrier is your only option for this or that phone.

[TK2011]

Stop trying to read too much out of what those clueless customer service representatives say or don't say. They just read off what's on screen and those things are often just little more than standard canned response to a given situation such as out-of-stock.

Another possibility to consider is that Microsoft is simply running short of L640 stock temporarily due to higher-than-expected consumer demand or lower-than-expected supply from part suppliers. We just don't know.

[ramtwins25]

Could also be that TMobile just rekindled its relationship with Blackberry so expect stores and online shops to push Blackberry devices as a third option for their customers vs WP. That's more on the carrier than Microsoft.

[anon(6078578)]

Stop trying to read too much out of what those clueless customer service representatives say or don't say. They just read off what's on screen and those things are often just little more than standard canned response to a given situation such as out-of-stock.

Another possibility to consider is that Microsoft is simply running short of L640 stock temporarily due to higher-than-expected consumer demand or lower-than-expected supply from part suppliers. We just don't know.

I like your optimism but we've seen this scenario play out before with windows phone. I will be very surprised to see it back online. The best outcome for those still wishing to purchase a T-Mobile variant is that Walmart continues to stock it, but since they said Microsoft will not be giving them anymore inventory, it makes me wonder for how long.

[ven07]

It was. Those sites want to garner favor or income from carriers. And WC is in that boat. I have lost count of the headlines or article contents that imply the carrier is your only option for this or that phone.

I know... but nowadays it's nice to see people actually thinking before, believing and spending their money.. Not a lot of us do it, but we're getting there heheh

[TK2011]

I like your optimism but we've seen this scenario play out before with windows phone. I will be very surprised to see it back online. The best outcome for those still wishing to purchase a T-Mobile variant is that Walmart continues to stock it, but since they said Microsoft will not be giving them anymore inventory, it makes me wonder for how long.

I've been around here long time and over the years saw a number of news like this (based off some random customer support chat usually) only to find that people have overreacted or simply misinterpreted the information given. Now let's look at what happened here. Initial headline news was "Hey, TMO is abandoning L640!!! They say it's demand and supply issue so it must not be selling well!!! World is collapsing on us!!!" Now that TMO clarified that it's just them running out of stock and not having a firm date for resupply from MS, this dude goes "Hey MS is abandoning TMO!!!"

*smh*

[anon(6078578)]

I've been around here long time and over the years saw a number of news like this (based off some random customer support chat usually) only to find that people have overreacted or simply misinterpreted the information given. Now let's look at what happened here. Initial headline news was "Hey, TMO is abandoning L640!!! They say it's demand and supply issue so it must not be selling well!!! World is collapsing on us!!!" Now that TMO clarified that it's just them running out of stock and not having a firm date for resupply from MS, this dude goes "Hey MS is abandoning TMO!!!"

*smh*

I hope you're right. I guess we'll see. This is T-Mobile after all :)

[Nogitsune Micah]

Stop trying to read too much out of what those clueless customer service representatives say or don't say. They just read off what's on screen and those things are often just little more than standard canned response to a given situation such as out-of-stock.

Another possibility to consider is that Microsoft is simply running short of L640 stock temporarily due to higher-than-expected consumer demand or lower-than-expected supply from part suppliers. We just don't know.

That's the cool thing about this. Its called speculation. Nothing wrong with that. Lmao

[sleeve22]

I would only get a T-Mo branded phone if there was a CV ROM available for that model just in case they decided again to stop supporting the phone. I did get a 640 as a backup and I immediately flashed the LTA CV because I have no need for Wi-Fi calling, and just to be future proof so to speak.

[HoosierDaddy]

I would only get a T-Mo branded phone if there was a CV ROM available for that model just in case they decided again to stop supporting the phone. I did get a 640 as a backup and I immediately flashed the LTA CV because I have no need for Wi-Fi calling, and just to be future proof so to speak.

What's the mechanism you used to flash it and where did you get the file? Do you think the method is something likely to remain usable going forward?

[sleeve22]

What's the mechanism you used to flash it and where did you get the file? Do you think the method is something likely to remain usable going forward?

I followed the instructions at this site:
Tutorial - Flash an Lumia device | Windows Phone 8 Development and Hacking | XDA Forums

[rdubmu]

The 925 was not a flagship device, limited onboard memory, and no wireless charging built in. It had nothing on the 920 or the 928. It was a mid-tier phone and sold such as.

the last flagship Windows phone was the HTC HD7 and Dell Venue Pro back in 2010

[ven07]

The 925 was not a flagship device, limited onboard memory, and no wireless charging built in. It had nothing on the 920 or the 928. It was a mid-tier phone and sold such as.

It was the "flagship" phone of the midlevel phones :p

[Nogitsune Micah]

The 925 was not a flagship device, limited onboard memory, and no wireless charging built in. It had nothing on the 920 or the 928. It was a mid-tier phone and sold such as.

the last flagship Windows phone was the HTC HD7 and Dell Venue Pro back in 2010

The 925 lacking wielesss charging doesn't make it any less of a flagship than other phones at that time that lacked wireless charging.

The 925 only having 16 GB onboard storage with no memory card doesn't make it less of a flagship than other android and iPhones with limited memory.

A dell venue pro? Please. Even Kim sold more and longer than that.

An sd card slot doesn't define a phone to.be a flagship nor does it define it by SD card slot

[rdubmu]

The 925 lacking wielesss charging doesn't make it any less of a flagship than other phones at that time that lacked wireless charging.

The 925 only having 16 GB onboard storage with no memory card doesn't make it less of a flagship than other android and iPhones with limited memory.

A dell venue pro? Please. Even Kim sold more and longer than that.

An sd card slot doesn't define a phone to.be a flagship nor does it define it by SD card slot

I disagree, and it does make it a non-flagship phone. When other devices do have a feature (I am not talking about android or iPhone) rather other Windows phones, and this phone doesn't. It makes it a lesser device. The 920 when launched was a superior device. It has more features than the 925. In every generation of devices, the phone with the most features, and best specs will be the flagship. All Windows phone 7 launch devices were flagship Windows devices and showed the versatility of the platform. So yes the Dell venue pro was a Windows phone 7 flagship (2010)

[Nogitsune Micah]

I disagree, and it does make it a non-flagship phone. When other devices do have a feature (I am not talking about android or iPhone) rather other Windows phones, and this phone doesn't. It makes it a lesser device. The 920 when launched was a superior device. It has more features than the 925. In every generation of devices, the phone with the most features, and best specs will be the flagship. All Windows phone 7 launch devices were flagship Windows devices and showed the versatility of the platform. So yes the Dell venue pro was a Windows phone 7 flagship (2010)

The only thing the 925 lacked over the 920 was the storage(16 GB less) and wireless charging. Those two features did not make it any less of a flagship considering the fact that most people acknowledge the 925 to be the better design(and more premium) of the two devices. I believe Daniel Rubino even said they need to make another 925 model for Windows 10...not a 920.

The 925 also had 6 lenses to the 920s 5......doesn't make the 920 any less of a device because its camera wasn't 100 percent identical the 920s.

You have to also realize that when the 920 came out...it wasn't meant to be the flagship since it was essentially a repackaged Lumia 920. Apple did the same exact thing with the IPhone 5C which is essentially the IPhone 5 with a different look.

The actual flagship at the time of the 925's release WAS the 1020....the 920 was old news and the 925 was a REFRESH to the 920 to continue that line of products. If you want to be technical, the 925 I guess was also a flagship as well because the 1020 and 925 were essentially the same exact phones aside from the camera anyway.

Then came the 1520 in November.

So Generation 1 of the Windows Phone 8 era....showcased the 920.

Generation 2 of the windows Phone 8 era....showcased the 1020 and 925

and Generation 3(3.5)- Then found us with the 1520 and 930/Icon

Each generation showcased the best Lumia phones at the time.

You really can't compare a Windows Phone 7 era to the WIndows Phone 8 era considering EVERY...single...Windows phone was exactly the same. There was no versatility. Same exact specs basically. Same restrictions. It's really no wonder that WP7 didn't do well. The only unique Windows phone 7 device that truly stood out was the 800, 900 since they were nokia's first and the dell venue pro only because it was the only windows phone ever with that design.

WP8 showcased different featuresets...be it HTC's 8X with their beats(and later their repackaged Android phones) for the music people

Samsung's ATIV line for the media savvy people with the Amoled Screens

And the many variations of Lumias....the first phablet(1520), Industry leading Camera(1020), and then the hero of the platform(520) which also introduced many of the budget handsets we've seen today that have kept the platform afloat and relevant to an extent.

[gavino96]

Microsoft announced awhile back something along the lines of reconsidering their relationships with various carriers. It makes sense because why waste time and manpower for a phone especially an exclusive with a carrier who isn't going to push your product vs focusing on one that will.

And therein lies the problem. Those carriers with exclusive models have been AT&T and Verizon. Whenever T-Mobile sold a WP, it was just an iteration of an exclusive model to AT&T or Verizon. Those phones did not sell well at AT&T or Verizon. Given that T-Mobile has gained a huge momentum in adding subscribers, it would be very foolhardy for MS to abandon T-Mobile. MS has forgotten that Google Android's rise to popularity did not begin with AT&T or with Verizon. It began with then #4 carrier T-Mobile with their HTC G1. MS needs to woo T-Mobile because of that and the fact that they are still adding more subscribers than any other carrier. (That's a statistical fact, everyone, so please don't hate. I do have T-Mobile and they don't have the widest coverage like AT&T and Verizon do. But they offer the best plans to date and that's what is appealing to all wireless customers. Plus, remember, UNLIMITED DATA OPTION.)

[tgp]

MS has forgotten that Google Android's rise to popularity did not begin with AT&T or with Verizon. It began with then #4 carrier T-Mobile with their HTC G1.

We are in a different era now. True touchscreen smartphones were fledgling back then, and the market was wide open. That market has now matured. We will need a new paradigm for this to repeat. Is Microsoft offering that new paradigm?

[Kar98]

I would only get a T-Mo branded phone if there was a CV ROM available for that model just in case they decided again to stop supporting the phone. I did get a 640 as a backup and I immediately flashed the LTA CV because I have no need for Wi-Fi calling, and just to be future proof so to speak.

Not sure if you succeeded. My 1320 came with a LTA CV ROM, and I'm still on Cyan. Wouldn't even have Cortana without the Developer Preview.