New Windows Phone OS update rolling out.

[George P Global Moderator]

Carriers can block as many updates as they want. What sanctions Microsoft has against carriers ? Microsoft won't allow those carriers to sell WP7 phones ?

Carriers sign contracts when the decide to sell a WP handset, if they don't agree to the terms then they don't get any phones. Simple as that, why else do you think AT&T got the Lumia 900 as a exclusive over everyone else? The licensing states that only one update can be blocked/ not picked up by a carrier, the next one will get pushed through regardless.

[pack34]

Carriers can block as many updates as they want. What sanctions Microsoft has against carriers ? Microsoft won't allow those carriers to sell WP7 phones ?

Depends on the contract they had to sign with MS. Most likely it'll be to the tune of $$$$. I do not believe any specifics were released with what that contract entailed.