PCMag.com reports that Microsoft has slowly started rolling out its next Windows Phone 7 mobile operating system update, which includes cut and paste functionality. "We've begun to gradually roll out the Copy and Paste update, starting with customers with open market phones in parts of Europe this week. More to come," a Microsoft spokesman said via e-mail to PCMag.com reporter Chloe Albanesius.

In fact, Microsoft’s chief executive Steve Ballmer first gave a glimpse of the Windows Phone 7 update at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. In addition to highlighting the cut and paste feature, the CEO also emphasized the improvement in app performance.

Meanwhile, Canadian 4G wireless service provider TELUS says on its web site that the earliest date any customer will receive the Windows Phone 7 software update, also known as NoDo, is March 29. In fact, since Microsoft is releasing the software update in a phased manner, it could take up to four weeks for all TELUS customers to have the option of receiving the update to upgrade their device software, TELUS told its customers via its web site.

According to PCMag.com, the update comes several weeks after the platform's first, minor update, which was met with glitches and delays, prompting the company to temporarily halt updates for Samsung phones. Hence, the software giant decided to delay this current update to late March.

In a March 10 Windows Phone blog post, Microsoft unveiled its process for rolling out updates. Once an update is ready to go, Microsoft provides it to its carrier partners, who test it to make sure it works on their networks.

"We work closely with our carrier partners, and encourage them to test our software as swiftly as possible. But it's still their network, and the reality is that some carriers require more time than others," wrote the blogger.

Winrumors reports that Windows Phone users who received the “NoDo” update early on Tuesday have confirmed that Microsoft is pushing out build 7390 under the “Windows Phone Update – March 2011″ push. The report also confirmed that Microsoft is distributing the update to a number of unbranded devices worldwide and owners should see the update notification shortly. However, it is not yet clear when carrier branded devices will receive update notifications. 



Ashok Bindra is a veteran writer and editor with more than 25 years of editorial experience covering RF/wireless technologies, semiconductors and power electronics. To read more of his articles, please visit his columnist page.

Edited by Jennifer Russell