We all know that Microsoft couldn’t be bothered to support a copy-and-paste function for Windows Phone 7 devices upon launch.
Obviously, Redmond expected the smartphone platform to be carried along by the sheer momentum and excitement generated by the uber-hip Microsoft brand name.
Uh, huh.
Now I don’t know for certain, but I suspect Microsoft has a long way to go before it can even seriously think about taking on RIM, Android and Apple.
Still, everyone has to start at the bottom, right?
Right.
And that is why the folks at Redmond have generously decided to confirm their support for the ever elusive copy-and-paste function during the first months of 2011.
“[We are] committed to delivering regular updates to the Windows Phone experience. Our first update will make copy & paste available in early 2011,” a Microsoft spokesperson explained in an official statement quoted by Engadget.
“In addition to this first update, all Windows Phone 7 users should expect to see additional updates delivered in the future as part of [our] ongoing update process.”
Sounds pretty straightforward, right?
Well, yes. But according to Engadget, Microsoft was forced to issue the clarification after a ChevronWP7 member tweeted that the first platform update would be so massive that it “could have [been] called Windows Phone 8.”
Of course, as you may have figured out by now, I’m not exactly a Microsoft fanboi.
But in this case, I happen to agree with Redmond’s decision to lower expectations for the first WP7 update, which will include belated, albeit welcome support for copy-and-paste.
Clearly, the platform needs to be brought up to speed quickly if it wants to have any hope at all of challenging Android, RIM and Apple.
But overall system stability is also a priority, and one that obviously can’t be neglected under any circumstances.
Really, the last thing that Steve “Balmy” Ballmer needs is reports of WP7 devices crashing (hello, blue screen of death?) due to a hasty patch job.
So, ongoing updates that improve the UI, along with the expansion of other services, i.e., say in the Cloud (whether music, gaming or Office), could definitely help accelerate the evolving platform’s adoption in both the consumer and corporate markets.
