awilliams1701
New member
Unfortunately by design CDMA carriers like Verizon and Sprint have 100% control of both the hardware and firmware on their network. Their networks require keys to be included in the firmware or the phone won't connect. If they don't approve, Microsoft doesn't get the keys. GSM carriers like AT&T and T-Mo don't require this, but if Microsoft tried to bypass them, they could stop selling the phones. The only reason the iphone gets away with this is because "everyone wants an iphone" (which I don't believe, but they do). So part of the agreement is that Verizon universally approves ALL updates without testing. Microsoft just doesn't have the power to make that deal.
The problem is that Microsoft depends on the carriers to test and release the firmware to a specific device, unlike Apple that they design, test and releases directly to their phones. I really don't understand why Microsoft just do that. Carriers don't need to be the one that judges if you receive the firmware or not. But it could also be that Microsoft negotiate with the carriers and they put that condition in order to accept Windows Phone in their sales.