Microsoft has begun rolling out the first OTA update for Windows Phone 8. Headed to the Windows Phone 8X by HTC [product information], it includes a number of new features, including one that Windows Phone users have been waiting for for some time.
Probably the key new feature added is the ability to keep Wi-Fi active when the screen times out. Before this option, Wi-Fi would be disabled at the same time as the screen going off, switching over to a cellular connection or disconnecting if one was not available.
This Windows Phone 8 update also adds some new SMS features: The ability to create SMS drafts, a ‘select all’ option mass deletions, and the ability to reject calls with a text message.
The update process took about 30 minutes when performed by WPCentral. It took about 10 minutes to download the update and for the device to prepare itself. The update itself took another 10 minutes or so. Five more minutes were taken up by the data migration that wrapped up the process.
The update appears to be rolling out to the international version of the Windows Phone 8X for now. Hopefully the update will soon make its way over to North America (It has certainly not shown up on the 8X we are currently reviewing).