No Windows Phone 7 Update For Some UsersNo Windows Phone 7 Update For Some Users

Microsoft has suspended an update for its Windows Phone 7 software for phones manufactured by Samsung, according to a company representative. The move is part of the software maker's efforts to deal with numerous problems caused by the update, which went live this week.

"We've identified a technical issue with the Windows Phone update process that impacts a small number of Samsung phones," said Microsoft's Michael Stroh, in a blog post Wednesday.

"We're working to correct the problem as quickly as possible. But as a precaution, we've briefly suspended updates to Samsung phones. We are continuing to update other Windows Phone models as scheduled," said Stroh.

Various models of Windows Phone 7 devices are also made by HTC, Dell, and LG. Stroh did not provide specific details about the problem with Samsung phones.

Stroh said about 10% of Windows Phone 7 users who tried to install the update, which, ironically, is a utility designed to ensure future updates go smoothly, had problems. Most were the result of a faulty Internet connection or a lack of local storage space.

"Why? Because before updating your phone, the Zune software and Windows Phone 7 Connector for Mac attempt to back up your phone data as a precaution," said Stroh.

Stroh admitted the update was buggy for numerous users.

"Has the update process gone perfectly? No—but few large-scale software updates ever do, and the engineering team here was prepared. Of course, when it's your phone that's having a problem—or you're the one waiting—it's still aggravating," Stroh wrote on his blog.

Microsoft introduced the Windows Phone 7 platform in November in an effort to keep up with rivals Apple and Google in the smartphone market. To date, the company has provided few details about sales volumes.

Earlier this month, Microsoft struck a deal with Nokia under which the Finnish handset maker agreed to use Windows Phone 7 as the default OS for its smartphones. Microsoft hopes the pact will expose Windows Phone 7 to a wider group of users and increase its market share outside the U.S., where Nokia remains the world's largest distributor of handsets.