The first update for the Windows Phone 7 is available today, according to Michael Stroh on the Windows blog. The update is the first in the series that is expected any day now (such as copy and paste features or improved Marketplace search), and was created to improve the software update process itself.  Sounds like a good step 1 for Windows Mobile to address.

The next major update that will be available starting with the beginning of the second half of this year is called Mango and will include Internet Explorer 9 Mobile multitasking support for third-party applications, among other features.

This update announcement from Windows comes shortly after last week’s speculations on future Windows Phone 7 updates. Firstly, WPCentral notices a couple of job openings for a new hardware team at Microsoft, within the Mobile Communication Business group. Secondly, WinRumors informs on Microsoft’s plans to unveil support for forward facing cameras as part of its updated hardware specifications and a possible partnership between Microsoft and Vesterbacka that would bring Angry Birds to Windows Phone 7.

A month ago we offered a possible explanation for the Windows Phone 7’s success rate in comparison with competitors’ devices, and just as James Choi, marketing strategy and planning team director of LG Electronics mentioned, the  answer lies in ‘visibility’. Microsoft should invest more in advertising so as to attract prospective customers’ attention and not necessarily by investing millions of dollars in advertising campaigns or lowering the price of the device (as the price is decided by manufacturers and not by Microsoft), but by establishing a tighter bond with mobile carriers, such as Verizon and AT&T.

The situation is different with Apple, at least from the price perspective. Within the MWC 2011 event, Apple announced that by the mid of 2011 will release a smaller version of the current iPhone that will half the price as well. There’s also Research in Motion’s introduction of the new BlackBerry phone and their steps towards closely linking BlackBerry devices with the business use via Blackberry Connect.

As for the other noteworthy competitor, Google’s Android keeps getting better and better. At the MWC 2011 held in Barcelona, a series of mobile phones on the Android OS were introduced (among them HTC Flyer, T-Mobile Move and Samsung Galaxy Mini), indicating a great possibility for Google to overtake Apple and maintain its lead on Windows Phone 7.