HD2 Gets Windows Phone 7, Unofficially, Maybe

Microsoft has confirmed that the popular HTC HD2 phone will not be getting the Windows Phone 7 Series upgrade later this year, even though the hardware appears to be perfectly capable of running the new OS. Sooner or later someone will obtain a ROM of WinPho 7 and load it onto the device. Reports are circulating that it has happened already.A number of sites have been showing off screen shots and video of the HD2 running WinPho 7 and it looks pretty convincing. Don't be so quick to assume it is true though. The folks at the::unwired have put together a video showing how this phone could have been mocked up. It involves using Visual Studio 2010 Express, a hacked build of the Windows Phone 7 emulator and a Remote Terminal session between the device and a computer.

It doesn't mean the videos are fake. Engadget has some video of the device that is supposedly running WinPho 7. If fake, they are very convincing.

Other than being interesting right now, it doesn't matter if the video is real or a hoax. For some, the fact that the HD2 won't get an upgrade isn't seen as a fact, but rather a challenge. The average user won't bother with it, but I am not sure how many average users are buying the HD2. The HD2 user is more tech savvy than most, so as long as an "upgrade" is available, a lot of users will jump through the necessary hoops to get an illegal ROM on their device.

Microsoft should change course on this one and score a minor publicity win. Give the HD2 users the upgrade they want, and will inevitably get.