Second Windows Phone 7 Update Due At MWC 2011 Tip Developers

Microsoft is reportedly readying a second Windows Phone 7 update to unveil at Mobile World Congress in February 2011, bringing with it improved multitasking support along with in-app downloads and broader customization options for end users. According to beta-testing developers talking to WinRumors, CEO Steve Ballmer will use his MWC 2011 keynote to launch the new developer APIs, themselves coming on the heels of a January update expected to delivery copy & paste functionality.

That early update has already begun seeding with developers, with a general release supposedly scheduled to go out during CES 2011 early next month. Meanwhile some developers are also testing parts of the second update, with one reporting that it "includes some great new features for developers," and that "Windows Phone 7 apps in 2011 will certainly become more interesting."

Also tipped for imminent release are a Silverlight update to Windows Phone 7, again believed to be coming at MWC 2011, and – further down the line – a significant update to the platform's browser. That, though, is likely to see tweaks earlier in the year, but the bulk of the changes are expected to be saved until Windows Phone 8.