Windows Phone 7.8 due to roll out on January 31

Networks have said the Windows Phone 7.8 update will arrive on handsets such as the Nokia Lumia 900 and Lumia 800 by the end of the month.

Handsets stuck on Windows Phone 7.5 have not been treated to the plush Windows Phone 8 OS which is reserved for new handsets. Version 7.8 their only salvation, but it's been slow coming.

UK carrier O2 tweeted last week: "The 7.8 Windows Phone update will be released by the end of January and will be available via Zune."

TechRadar has spoken to Microsoft which confirmed that "the Windows Phone 7.8 update will arrive by the end of the month [January]."

Why are we waiting?

Over in Columbia however the Windows Phone team seem more certain over the Windows Phone 7.8 release date, posting on its Facebook page that the update will arrive on January 31.

We've also been in contact with Nokia over the update who told us: "Windows Phone 7.8 is becoming available on new phones around the world, and Microsoft has announced it is working to get the software update tested, approved and rolled out to as many devices as possible early this year.

"Exact time frames for rollout will be announced in due course."

It usually takes a few weeks for an update to hit every handset, so you may be looking at mid-February before you're treated to Windows Phone 7.8, although carriers can potentially delay the roll out as they run their own tests before offering it to customers.

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Windows Phone almost triples UK market share in last 12 months

Microsoft's Windows Phone OS is still miles behind Android and iOS in terms of market share, but traction is improving, new figures have shown.

The OS almost trebled its slice of the pie in the UK, rising from 2.2 per cent to 5.9 per cent in the last twelve months, according to data from research firm Kantar Worldpanel Comtech.

Third place now beckons for Microsoft in Blighty as it closes in on RIM's floundering BlackBerry platform, which has a 6.4 per cent share of the UK market.

However, the battle for the bronze medal is merely a dot on the horizon behind the interminable iOS/Android battle, which claims 32.4 and 54.4 per cent respectively.

However, although Microsoft's improving outlook in Britain is something to cling to, there's even better news for the company in Italy, where Windows Phone has a very respectable 13.9 per cent of the market.

The Battle of Britain: Apple vs Samsung

In another interesting tidbit gleaned from the figures, Apple is supposedly getting closer to overhauling Samsung, in terms of manufacturing share.

Apple has 32.4 per cent of the market with the iPhone, while the more numerous Samsung models have 35 per cent of all active phones in the UK.

Nokia is also on the rise once again, thanks largely to its Lumia range of Windows Phone handets. It's UK share is up 50 per cent year-on-year and it now holds 6.2 per cent of the market.

Could the Finnish company, which has enjoyed some rare, positive news in recent weeks, make the comeback of all comebacks to challenge the top dogs?

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