Windows Phone Patch Restores KeyboardWindows Phone Patch Restores Keyboard

7 Hottest Features In Windows Phone 7 Mango

Microsoft has issued a patch to fix a glitch that can cause the virtual keyboard on Windows Phone 7 models that have received the Mango update to disappear while the user is typing.

The update, which rolled out this week and is numbered 7.10.8107.79, is designed to eliminate the bug, first spotted by users after Mango, or Windows Phone 7.5, rolled out in September. Microsoft is notifying users through their phones of the patch's availability.

In addition to the keyboard issue, the fix is designed to address a number of other bugs. A problem with Google Gmail synching is resolved, and message replies sent or forwarded through Exchange now include a copy of the original message.

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In terms of security and privacy, the patch also adds rules so that the Me feature in Windows Phone 7's People hub will only send information about nearby Wi-Fi hotspots and cell towers if the user agrees to let the Check-In function access location information. Also, digital certificates from DigiCert Sdn Bhd are revoked to address an encryption issue.

Finally, the patch fixes a problem with voice mail notification that occurred on some models in European and Asian markets.

Users who install the update will also receive all previous Windows Phone updates if they have not previously installed them. "We think even great software can always get better. That's why we periodically release Windows Phone software updates to add new features you've asked for and to maximize your phone's performance," Microsoft said in a statement.

Mango was the first major dot release for Windows Phone. It adds numerous improvements, from new end-user features to transparent back-end services.

A feature called Threads lets users glide between text, Windows Live Messenger, and Facebook chat within the same "conversation." Groups lets users receive and send messages from predefined social or business circles directly to and from the Smart Tiles home screen. Contact Cards have been enhanced to include feeds from Twitter and LinkedIn, as well as previously supported networks.

Local Scout, which is integrated with Bing, yields hyper-local search results for dining, shopping, and entertainment.

Mango also adds long-awaited multitasking capability, which lets users move freely between applications and pick up and resume where they left off. 4G wireless support is embedded. For security-conscious enterprise customers, Mango adds support for various rights management technologies. For example, it lets authorized users open emails tagged with restrictions such as "Do Not Forward" or "Do Not Copy."

Additionally, it beefs up integration with authoring and collaboration tools like Lync and Office 365. In the United States, Windows Phone is available on the AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, and T-Mobile networks.

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