We reported a few days ago that Windows Phone 7.8 would be getting more than just the new start screen on old devices, and now Microsoft seems to have publicly confirmed it on a forum post that asks users to recommend what features they"d like to see in the final release for older devices.
The post was started by a user of the Windows Phone User Voice forum, is entitled "MORE WINDOWS PHONE 7.8 FEATURES!!" and has around 57,000 votes at time of writing. Then, a Windows Phone administrator replied, and asked users to vote on the feature that is most important to them to see in the final release:
As you know, Windows Phone 8 is a generational shift in technology, which means that it will not run on existing hardware. BUT we care deeply about our existing customers and would like to know SPECIFICALLY what features you would like to see on 7.8 and vote INDIVIDUALLY for the one that you want most (vs. one large grab bag of features).
The users in the original post believe that Microsoft should include background Skype support, data monitoring, OTA (even though it"s being discontinued), IE10 and screenshots.
Windows Phone 7.8 is an update that will be pushed to current Windows Phone hardware, since they cannot support Windows Phone 8"s new architecture. It will be the final release from Microsoft, but the company has remained quiet about what it will actually include past the new start menu design.
It"s interesting that Microsoft is asking users what they consider to be important for the release, and it will be impressive if the company actually goes ahead and adds the most popular voted option to the platform.