Prior to smartphones, sure, nobody updated them. I recall updating my WM6 to 6.5. Palm issued updates too. It's rarely an option for Android users though and WP7 users got the shaft.
iPhones are the exception because Apple is currently the only one who has widely supported their products long enough for a software update to even exist.
iPhones are the exception because Apple is currently the only one who has widely supported their products long enough for a software update to even exist.