Microsoft brings together Messenger, Facebook and AOL chat in WP7 update

MOBILE SOFTWARE DEVELOPER Microsoft has let slip more details of what will be included in its upcoming Windows Phone 7 (WP7) update.

Microsoft has been building up the hype for what it calls its Windows Phone 7.5 update codenamed Mango for some time now and the latest details it has leaked include instant messaging integration into the WP7 messaging hub. There will be integrated Skydrive storage, Office 365 and of course Internet Explorer 9, though both were first mentioned back at Mobile World Congress in February.

Messaging is what Microsoft is pushing the hardest, bringing its own Windows Live Messenger, Facebook Chat and AOL messenger into the messaging hub. The Redmond PC software company says there will be a group messaging feature that will allow users to message people on various networks at one time.

Video voicemail, a feature that made its debut on Apple's Iphone back in 2007, will also be supported, but its likely that it will only be available on a mobile operator that supports it. Gaming related updates will appear in Windows Phone 7.5, including a synchronisation system that will allow users to match up games and settings over the Xbox Live cloud network.

Microsoft also mentioned improvements on battery management and improved network detection methods that will automatically choose the network that has the best connectivity.

The messaging aggregation sounds interesting, however given that Apple and Google could quite easily do something very similar natively in their operating systems, Microsoft will need a lot more than just integrating social networks to win over punters. At present Microsoft won't say when Windows Phone 7.5 will be coming out and frankly, it's unlikely that many consumers will wait, as the latest crop of Android phones is hitting the streets right now.

Still, Microsoft's WP7 Mango update feature list gives Nokia users something to look forward to. µ