Last week, BGR reported on a bug within the Windows Phone 7 operating system that resulted in superfluous data being uploaded over 3G networks. The bug was causing some Windows Phone owners to quickly reach or surpass their monthly data allotments. According to a statement from a Microsoft spokesperson, the company believes it has identified the cause of the issue in most or all cases.
We have determined that a third-party solution commonly accessed from Windows Phones is configured in a manner that potentially cause larger than expected data downloads. We are in contact with the third party to assist them in making the necessary fixes, and are also pursuing potential workarounds to address the configuration issue in case those are needed. At this point in our investigation, we believe this is responsible for most of the reported incidents.
We are investigating additional potential root causes for the remainder of the reports.
A small (low single-digit) percentage of Windows Phone customers have reported being affected.
We are continuing to investigate this issue and will update with additional information and guidance as it becomes available.
Unfortunately, Microsoft has not yet put a timeline on a potential solution it claims to be developing. It also failed to identify the “third-party solution” responsible for the bug. Finally, Microsoft has not yet said what it intends to do for users who may be exceeding their data caps and incurring fees as a result of the bug.
[Via Windows Phone Secrets]
