Samsung Omnia W and Dell Venue Pro get Windows Phone Tango

Microsoft has started rolling out the Windows Phone Tango update for two of its new phones – the Samsung Omnia W and the Dell Venue Pro. We had earlier reported that the Nokia Lumia 710 and 800 had started receiving Windows Phone Tango, but sadly, as users disclosed, it still hasn’t started rolling out for users in India. The update now involves two non-Nokia phones, and as reported, users in India are getting the Windows Phone Tango update for the Samsung Omnia W.

For those who have version 7.10.8107 of the OS, the update is a two-step process. The first one would be the 7.10.8112 update, following which users would get the 7.10.8773 Tango update. The Tango updates allow users to add media files in an MMS, export and import contacts to and from a phone, along with a few performance-related improvements. It is good to see that the older generation devices aren’t being left behind as the Dell Venue Pro is getting the update as well. As reported, a few users have started getting the Tango update for this device as well.

Two new features included in the Lumia update, we're hoping will come to these phones too, are Internet sharing (otherwise known as Wi-Fi tethering) and flip to silence. Internet sharing will allow you to share your mobile Internet connection over Wi-Fi with up to five other devices or computers. In effect, it turns your Omnia W or Venue Pro into a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot. As for flip-to-silence, well, you turn your phone face down and all incoming phone calls and alerts will be silenced. But how do you update your device? Users can get the update by connecting their phone to their computer with the USB cable and starting the Zune software on a PC or Windows Phone 7 connector in case of a Mac.

While all of this sounds extremely nice and interesting, it is also important to mention that Windows Phone Tango is still only a marginal update. The current crop of Windows Phone devices will not get Windows Phone 8. That is a major drawback, but Microsoft is planning an update that will give existing devices the Windows Phone 8 start screen; called Windows Phone 7.8, this is the true update that most users are now waiting for. With Windows Phone 8 coming later this year, it is only fair that the entire crop of existing users are able to enjoy WP 7.8 till the new wave of phones eventually make these obsolete. So how fast can Microsoft get this new update to the masses? We’ll have to wait and watch.