Microsoft has dispelled recent rumours of the Windows Phone 7.8 update landing this side of Christmas, and unfortunately it’s bad news for any eager updaters out there.
Contrary to two recent rumours that appeared online through various outlets, the update will be arriving early on in 2013. Microsoft confirmed this just last night:
“We know you’re eager to get the Windows Phone 7.8 update, and we want you to know that we’re working closely with our hardware and carrier partners to get it tested, approved, and rolled out to as many devices as possible in early 2013,”
The 7.8 update was announced earlier on in the year alongside the newer Windows Phone 8, and has been designed to take the first series of Windows Phones to a final version of software as Microsoft moves on with its new Windows Phone 8 range.
The software company revealed Windows Phone 8 around one year after it really started pushing the Nokia Lumia 800 and 900, and so there were many customers left with soon to be outdated phones, half way through long contracts. The update brings a host of features from Windows Phone 8 to older phones, giving users a taste of the new OS.
Features included are the new homescreen with resizable live titles, new wallpapers and ringtones and much more. Whether it will arrive on your older Windows Phone is still awaiting confirmation, as manufacturers such as ZTE, HTC and Samsung are currently testing the update on devices. We would expect most of Nokia’s Lumia range to get the update however, thanks to their partnership with Microsoft.