What’s Next for Microsoft Corporation (MSFT)’s Windows Phone 8?

The fact that Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is lagging behind in the smartphone market is no surprise. For the most part, the company has yet to do anything in this space that turns heads. That being said, there is reason to believe that the company will continue down its current path with hopes of changing its fortunes in the near future. We recently published a story pertaining to an app update for the phone, showing that MSFT is at least trying to stay relevant.

Late last week, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) published a few of its most recent updates to its Windows Phone website. While many people, including users, are unaware of these changes, these are definitely worth noting.

While we are not going to touch on each and every update, here are a few that may get you excited:

“Xbox Music. It’s now easier to select, download, and pin music. Plus, music fans will see more accurate metadata (such as song and album information) and many other performance improvements.

FM radio. Listen to FM radio right from the Music+Videos hub. (Not available for all phones.)

Data Sense. Stay on top of your phone’s data usage with Data Sense. You can set a limit based on your data plan, or just keep track of which apps use the most data. (Not all mobile operators offer Data Sense.)

Skype. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) apps like Lync and Skype now feature improved stability and performance.”

It is a shame that Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) Windows Phone 8 has yet to become more popular, as it does offer some pretty interesting features that are sure to make the user experience more enjoyable.

The Verge happened upon some additional information on what is going on right now, and added the following:

“The message from Microsoft on Windows Phone updates is mixed. While the company promised a year ago that it was creating an enthusiasts program to provide early access to updates, Microsoft has yet to detail when it plans to deliver it. The program was said to “keep your phone fresher than ever before.” For now though, all update signs point to early 2014. Microsoft confirmed it’s planning a “feature pack” update in the first half of next year that will include some enterprise improvements and VPN support.”

Right now, it appears that Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) itself doesn’t know what is next. What we do know is that the company needs to press forward to achieve success in this market in the years to come.