14 DAY TRIAL // Australian carrier Telstra has just confirmed that the long-awaited Windows Phone 8 GDR3 update, also known as Windows Phone 8 Update 3, for Nokia Lumia 925 and Lumia 1020 is now in testing.
Unfortunately, the testing will take more than a few weeks, which means that Lumia 925 and 1020 owners won't receive the update until mid-January.
Obviously, if bugs and issues are found during testing, Nokia will have to submit the update again and the release will be pushed back for a few weeks.
It is also worth mentioning that the carrier's Handset Software Update scheduler states that Nokia Lumia 920 will receive the Windows Phone 8 GDR3 update in Q1 2014, WMPoweruser reports.
According to the document cited earlier, the Windows Phone 8 GDR3 update for Nokia Lumia 920 is expected to be submitted sometime in January, which means that it will hit smartphones later the same month or in February.
Windows Phone 8 GDR3 update contains important new features and improvements, including support for larger screens and higher resolutions.
Microsoft has also confirmed that the major update will bring a new Driving Mode feature that will be integrated within Windows Phone devices once Update 3 is applied.
The said feature works with a connected Bluetooth device and is designed to limit notifications on the lock screen, such as texts, calls, and quick status alerts, until you reach destination. Driving Mode can be set to send personalized replies to people that contact the user while they're driving.
Improved Internet Sharing is another addition included in the Windows Phone 8 GDR3 update, which allows users to turn their Windows Phone 8 devices into mobile hotspots without having to enter a password or enable the Internet Sharing feature.
Other important new features and enhancements available after the upgrade include: screen reader, more customizable ringtones, new rotation lock option, better storage management, App switcher to quickly close apps, Wi-Fi access out of the box, and better Bluetooth connectivity.