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Windows Phone 7 users – both of them? – are about to be treated to their first software update. But even Microsoft admits that it's no big deal.

"Starting today, some of you might see something new on your Windows Phone: A message announcing that a software update is available. Woo hoo!", effuses Michael Stroh on the Windows Phone Blog.

He then calms down a bit. "Now, before you get too excited, let me explain," he writes. "This isn’t the update you've probably been reading about or perhaps waiting for, the one with copy and paste (but that's coming soon)."

This update, in fact, is merely an update that improves the process of updating. As Microsoft's new Windows Phone update history webpage explains: "We made some improvements to the way we deliver software updates to ensure that the process keeps working smoothly for you."

Stroh is a wee bit more enthusiastic: "... while it might not sound exciting," he writes, "it’s still important because it’s paving the way for all future goodie-filled updates."

At last week's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer confirmed that the much-anticipated cut-and-paste update, NoDo, would arrive in March. The first comprehensive upgrade, Mango, isn't scheduled to arrive until late this year.

This first updating update, announced Monday, will be rolled out in waves. As Stroh explains: "... it won't be sent to everyone at once. So you might see an update message before your spouse, co-worker, or neighbor (or vice versa)."

The update won't be sent over the air – you'll need to hook your phone up to your computer using a USB cable, then run either Zune software for PCs (Windows XP SP3, Vista, or Windows 7) or Windows Phone 7 Connector for Macs (Mac OS X 10.6.6 or later).

One final note: Stroh cautions that the update process may inform you to update those apps first. "Just follow the on-screen instructions, restart the software, and then connect your phone," he says in his italics-happy way.

For more help – although we sincerely doubt that any Reg reader would need any assistance for such a simple operation – check out Microsoft's Phone updates webpage. ®

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