We began to get rather hopeful with news of an imminent release for the Windows Phone 7.8 update, thanks to a tweet published by UK mobile operator O2. The company has quickly become the premier Windows Phone carrier in the UK, supporting the platform with stock of not only Lumia handsets, but Samsung and HTC as well.
Now Telstra has provided some hints that consumers with Windows Phone 7 hardware won't have to wait too long for the much anticipated update.
If the Australian operator's update tables are anything to go by, Windows Phone 7.8 will be hitting consumers from January 31st onwards. The expected date of arrival is for Lumia 800 handsets, while other Windows Phones are subject to availability - approval and deployment dates have not yet been locked down by Telstra. See all supported Windows Phones below:
| Handset | Update | Status | Expected customer availability date | Notes |
| Nokia Lumia 800 | Windows Phone 7.8 update | First round testing | 31/01/2013 | N/A |
| Nokia Lumia 610 | Windows Phone 7.8 update | First round testing | TBC | Approval/deployment dates not locked down yet. Expected to be available late February/early March |
| HTC Titan 4G | Windows Phone 7.8 update | First round testing | TBC | Approval/deployment dates not locked down yet. Expected to be available late February/early March |
| HTC 7 Mozart | Windows Phone 7.8 update | First round testing | TBC | Approval/deployment dates not locked down yet. Expected to be available late February/early March |
| HTC HD7 | Windows Phone 7.8 update | First round testing | TBC | Approval/deployment dates not locked down yet. Expected to be available late February/early March |
| Samsung Omnia W | Windows Phone 7.8 update | First round testing | TBC | Approval/deployment dates not locked down yet. Expected to be available late February/early March |
Should other mobile operators in multiple markets follow a similar release strategy, we'll expect to see the rollout commence completely by March. That's if the above dates hold out, of course. We'll keep an eye out for more information surrounding the update, but it's definitely not long to go now.
Rich Edmonds is a word conjurer at Windows Central, covering everything related to Windows, gaming, and hardware. He's been involved in technology for more than a decade and knows a thing or two about the magic inside a device chassis. You can follow him over on Twitter at @RichEdmonds.
