Windows Phone 7.8 to launch in China in ‘coming weeks’

Microsoft’s vice president for the Greater China region has revealed that the company’s Windows Phone 7.8 upgrade will begin rolling out in the country in the “coming weeks,” backing up a previous promise to release the software before the end of the year. Speaking to Chinese newspaper BJD, the executive also confirmed that Windows Phone 8 handsets will go on sale in the country next month.

First announced back in June, Windows Phone 7.8 is seen as a compromise between versions 7.5 and 8, providing a revamped start screen with fully resizable tiles. It will be available as an upgrade for older handsets such as Nokia’s Lumia 900, as well as powering new low-end devices, and is expected to roll out to the rest of the world following its China launch.