14 DAY TRIAL // Windows Phone Mango, the successor of Windows Phone 7, will be released on September 1st, 2011, according to a third-party report that Microsoft hasn’t confirmed officially.
The software giant has yet to announce the availability deadline for the next major iteration of Windows Phone, although it released Mango to manufacturing at the end of July 2011.
But next month might just bring with it the first Windows Phone Mango upgrades and devices, especially since IFA will be held in Berlin between September 2 and 7, featuring a range of consumer electronics, devices, appliances, etc.
According to Pocket-Lint, Microsoft will start rolling out Windows Phone Mango on September 1st, and the first smartphones featuring the software giant’s latest mobile platform will also ship on this day.
No additional details are available at this point in time, certainly not from the Redmond company or any of its OEM partners, including Nokia.
However, what’s interesting is that on August 10, Eric Hautala, GM, Customer Experience Engineering announced that Microsoft was preparing for the next Windows Phone major update.
“For several months now I’ve been dropping by here each week to bring you the latest on software updates for your phone. We’ve learned a lot from delivering the first round of updates—lessons we’re applying to the next release of Windows Phone, which I know many of you are eagerly awaiting,” Hautala said.
“My team and I are heads down right now, putting all our energy into preparing for this major update. Until that work is done, I wanted to let you know that I won’t be actively posting here. The next time you hear from me, it’ll be to let you know Mango is making its way to your phone.”
Hautala spoke in general terms, and it’s hard to read between the lines, but I don’t think that this announcement can be brushed off without giving it some thought.
As far as I’m concerned IFA 2011 can very well act as the scene where Windows Phone Mango devices will be unveiled to the world. It remains to be seen whether Mango smartphones will actually become commercially available and if Windows Phone 7 customers will start receiving upgrades.
UPDATE: Microsoft is saying that Windows Phone Mango will not launch September 1st. Joe Belfiore, Corporate Vice President, Windows Phone Program Management tweeted: "#mango Sept 1? Just a rumor."