AT&T Set To Release Mango Tuesday

Microsoft is working with its carrier and manufacturing partners to get its major update to Windows Phone, codenamed Mango, out to users. The last few updates from the software giant seemed to languish in carrier hands for weeks--and even months--before being released to customers. With this news, it appears AT&T at least learned that dragging its feet only hurts its own image.

In March, an update for Windows Phone called NoDo was released, but users of the AT&T network had to wait nearly a month before they were told the update was in the process of being distributed. Some users of Samsung devices had to wait well into May to get the update. Internet forums, Twitter, and other sites were full of complaints by users.

AT&T received a black eye on that one, and rightly so. Windows Phone updates are prepared and delivered by Microsoft, but the carriers are the gatekeeper. The customer receives a notification, delivered by the carrier, on their phone that an update is available.

NoDo was widely anticipated because it added copy and paste functionality to the phone, but NoDo is nothing compared to Mango. The update will include over 500 new features, including third-party multitasking, turn-by-turn navigation, Twitter integration, and group messaging. A lengthy rollout on this one will not sit well with users.

Boy Genius Report has received information that indicates AT&T learned its lesson. The site reported that an internal AT&T memo says:

"Effective September 27, 2011, customers with AT&T branded HTC Surround, LG Quantum, and Samsung Focus devices are scheduled to receive a notification on their device an update is available. The notice will include instructions to connect the device to their PC in order to receive the update. An update for the HTC HD7S is expected by the end of October."

October? Well, three out of four isn't too bad. Actually, if you have a Dell Venue Pro, you also shouldn't get your hopes up either. Dell said that would be out "later this fall."

I am glad to see that I was wrong about AT&T when I predicted there would be a delay in releasing Mango to users, but it looks like for many users I was right. We'll see how the updates progress in the coming weeks from AT&T and other carriers, both domestically and abroad. Mango is too big of deal for Microsoft to leave so much up to the carriers. I am sure there is a full-court press from Microsoft to get this into user's hands as soon as possible.