The upgrade is expected to be released in early 2013

Nov 14, 2012 10:03 GMT  ·  By

The first details on Windows Phone 7.8 features leaked about two weeks ago via Nokia Italy. The company let it slip the next major update for Windows Phone 7.5 smartphones will bring lots of new features, services and improvements.

Today, Chinese forum Windows Phone House reveals more info on Windows Phone 7.8 features. The information comes via a leaked Nokia training slide, which details some of the features included in this major update.

The leaked slide details the differences between Windows Phone 7.8 and Windows Phone 8. According to this document, which is in Chinese by the way, Windows Phone 7.8 will bring a new 3-tile start screen, along with an enhanced lock screen.

In addition, the major update includes 20 new color themes and will allow users to edit MP3 music files so that they can be used as ringtones.

Furthermore, the lock screen will support Bing wallpapers and the Internet Explorer browser will receive some security improvements.

Aside from these features detailed in this training slide, Windows Phone 7.8 has been confirmed to come with the ability to share multimedia files via Bluetooth. A contacts transfer/sharing application will be included as well.

It appears that most information on Windows Phone 7.8 comes from China, which might suggest Microsoft plans to initially release the upgrade in the Mainland.

We reported yesterday that Windows Phone Brazil confirmed the update as arriving in the country in Q1 2013, though no exact release date has been specified.

However, Windows Phone 7.8 may be rolled out in other countries by the end of the year, as Windows Phone Brazil only stated the update would be available in Brazil early next year.

Either way, we can safely assume Windows Phone 7.8 will be released globally in waves, so not all Windows Phone 7.5 users will receive it at the same time. Stay tuned for more updates on the matter.

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