Windows Phone owners can finally let out a sigh of relief as Microsoft, per reports, has confirmed the existence of the previously rumored and eagerly-anticipated Windows Phone 7.8 for users whose phones won’t support the newly-released Windows Phone 8 refresh.
The official Microsoft blog has finally revealed that the newest refresh is under development and will be making its way to users this fall. Microsoft talks a little about the new lower-end handsets that are arriving this fall, already running Windows Phone 7.8 out of the box. The company also discussed the features that will arrive with the latest refresh.
“As previously announced, with Windows Phone 7.8 we’re also bringing the feature to existing Windows Phone 7.5 devices. During the development process, I used builds of 7.8 on my Lumia 900 and it felt like a completely new phone: resizable Live Tiles totally change the way I do things, providing faster access to more of my favorite people, photos, and apps,” states Terry Myerson, Corporate Vice President Windows Phone.
Apart from this, Windows Phone 7.8 will also arrive with some other “cool stuff.” The new operating system is set double the number of theme and accent colors to as many as 20 providing users with the option to make their phone even more personal.
Moreover, there are also new lock screen features – the option to automatically display the Bing Picture of the Day along with the ‘A1B2C3’ PIN/password challenge to prevent accidental device wipes on phones connected to Exchange accounts.
“New models running Windows Phone 7.8 are beginning to launch in many countries around the world, strengthening the ecosystem by bringing more Windows Phones to more people. These devices will typically be sold at a range of lower price points, meaning there will now be Windows Phones for everyone’s budget and need,” Myerson adds. “This is incredibly important for broadening the reach of Windows Phone across the globe and ensuring we have the right product for every market.”
As far as an arrival date for Windows Phone 7.8 is concerned, Myerson stated 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.”
