Update: Video of the Windows Phone 7.1 Mango Update Out

UPDATE: _To sweeten the deal for the Mango WP7 update that was recntly announced, Microsoft has released a video - take a look below.
_

Microsoft has officially announced the first major update to Windows Phone 7, ‘Mango’. The update will take the version up to 7.1, and will bring in a host of new features, which according to Microsoft totals to more than 500. “Seven months ago we started our mission to make smartphones smarter and easier for people to do more,” said Andy Lees, President of the Mobile Communications Business at Microsoft. “With ‘Mango,’ Windows Phone takes a major step forward in redefining how people communicate and use apps and the Internet, giving you better results with less effort.”

Sweet, sweet mango

Here are some of the features and improvements Mango will bring to the table:

• Conversation threads
• Contact Groups
• Deeper social network integration for Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook
• Linked Inbox
• Hands-free messaging
• Connects Apps to search results via App Connect
• Improved Live Tiles
• App Multitasking
• Internet Explorer 9
• Localised search results via Local Scout
• Bing on Windows Phone
• Quick summary cards

You can check out the video posted below for more information. Either way, this is some good news for Windows Phone 7 owners, Fall cannot come soon enough.

More from News & Analysis

What is the US HIRE Bill and why is India’s $250-billion IT sector worried? Is the internet dead? What's this theory that OpenAI's Sam Altman says might be true?