[JohnnyFlash]

The only reason I haven't brought a Windows Phone is because I am stuck in a contract at the moment. Once that expires I WAS going to get one.

I am not sure any more. I have an iPad and I am used to free system updates. I expect to get IOS updates until it becomes impractical for the specifications of my device to run the next IOS version. Basically, I expect IOS updates for 3-4 years.

I expected the same with my Android phone. Alas.. that didn't happen. I got one update after a year and am still on some outdated version of Android. This is why I won't be getting another Android device.

I figured Windows Phone would be more like the iPad where you get updates for a couple of years. I thought that the cash cow was the app store, not the OS so keeping everyone that can be on the same version of the OS would be very beneficial.

In short.. if WP7 users get left behind it would really put me off getting a Windows Phone 8 phone. What is the point when I will almost certainly be abandoned by the next update.

[ryanmolden]

I don't believe the app store on any platform is a "cash cow". Apple makes the vast majority of their profit selling the device itself, Microsoft charges OEMs a per unit license fee. I suspect the app store, like iTunes, is break even or even perhaps a net negative as far as financials go.

[bookwormAT]

Both Google and Apple are equally interested in keeping their devices up to date as long as reasonable. Both release one new device each year. I don't see how ios has an advantage here.

update support does not depend on the operating system, but on the service provider that provides the software on your phone. And it looks more like 2:1 right now, as ASUS has been very dedicated so far to update its tablets as soon as possible.

[juliano_q]

I got constant updates for almost 2 years on my Android phones. Had a Nexus S, now I have a Galaxy Nexus. It is just a matter of choice, you can choose to buy a device that you know to have bad support or to buy the supported by Google line.