Windows Phone Thoughts: First Windows Phone Update Rolling out Today...But Don't Get Too Excited

This was kept a secret almost until it happened, but later today - on a rolling basis world-wide - the first official Windows Phone update is rolling out. The first thing to understand is that this update should be thought of as a test run - the update is upgrading the software on the phone that handles the software update. This update does not have copy and paste, or any other bug fixes that Microsoft is commenting on.

There are some interesting questions around exactly who is going to get the update. At the time I'm writing this (Sunday), no one I've communicated with knows if this update will go out to all Windows Phone 7 devices, or only if it’s a “proper” phone on a “proper” carrier – like an HD7 on T-Mobile. What about me using an AT&T LG Quantum on Rogers in Canada? Rogers doesn’t sell the Quantum, so will I get the update? What about someone using a non-SIM locked phone in a country where Windows Phone 7 hasn’t launched yet? Will they not get the update notification on their phone, but still get the update when they connect their phone to the Zune desktop software?

Lots of questions - and, when you think about it, it's not such a bad idea to get this "non" update rolled out to see how things work and iron out any last minute glitches before the first real update in a couple of weeks.

A couple of things to note:

• Some people will see the update right away, some won't see it for a few hours - that's the way the process works
• You'll need to physically connect your phone to your computer with the Zune software - it won't work over WiFi sync
• As part of the update, a backup of your phone will be capture - expect the process to take more than a few minutes. As in, don't start it if you need to run out the door in five minutes

Because this is the first update for the Windows Phone 7 platform, there are more questions than answers at the moment. Please post a comment if something strange happens for you with the update, and I'm especially curious to hear from those of you out there with phones that aren't on official carrier-partner networks, etc.

UPDATE: Want to see the update in action? Check it out.