Microsoft Set To Unveil Windows Phone 'Mango' UpdateMicrosoft Set To Unveil Windows Phone 'Mango' Update

On May 24, Microsoft will unveil what it calls the next major release of Windows Phone. Many believe this is the Mango update, and there's speculation that it may be called Windows Phone 7.5 since so many features will be added.

We already know that the browser will be replaced with Internet Explorer 9 and will support HTML 5. In April, we were shown video depicting IE9 rendering HTML 5 twice as fast as Android currently does and multiple times faster than the iPhone 4 can.

WPCentral now gives us a sneak peak at what Microsoft should formally be showing later this month in New York City. Messaging will be getting a big update by integrating Windows Live, AOL Instant Messenger and Facebook chat into one client.

You have to wonder if by the time Mango comes out this fall if it won't also include Skype given the software giant's $8.5 billion bid for the company. If not, I'd bet the hooks would be there to allow for a minor update soon after the deal closes. The revamped Mango client will determine whether or not IM or SMS is the best way to deliver a message depending on your connectivity.

The lock screen will now display the artist you are currently listening to, mirroring what happens on the Zune HD or Xbox 360 when left unattended for a few minutes. That means you'll want to be careful who can see your phone when you are listening to Rebecca Black.

Skydrive and Office 365 will be integrated into the Office hub. Hopefully the overall solution will allow an easy way to sync documents between a phone and PC without requiring SharePoint.

There are other facelifts rumored to be included as well, such as Xbox 360 synchronization, native check-ins for location based services like Facebook Places, user control over some battery saving features, and group messaging built into email and SMS.

You'll have to pay attention next Tuesday when the official presentation is made by Microsoft.