[jblock]

Not to nitpick or defend MS, but it sounds like they don't want to call it 8 unless it has all of the hardware features specified by 8 (like NFC). From what I understand it will get all of the new software benefits/features of Windows 8, just not in name.

[simonh]

Some of the features of Windows Phone 8 are being backported onto the Windows Phone 7 platform. It's not in any way shape or form a version or variant of Windows Phone 8 though.

[aik]

>> "It's not in any way shape or form a version or variant of Windows Phone 8 though."

I wonder, how would you characterize WP8?

Judging by the fact that very similar situations to this one have happened over and over again throughout history, I'm fairly sure that once Windows Phone 8 is out, people will forget very quickly that previous Lumia phones never supported WP8. They'll simply get excited about the current offerings and that's it.

People aren't very good at holding grudges when a shiny new carrot is dangled in front of their face.