Windows Phone 8.1 release date: A Microsoft spokesperson has confirmed that Windows Phone 8 users will be able to get a Windows Phone 8.1 update. The upcoming update won’t be what happened to Windows Phone 7 users who were told that they can’t upgrade to Windows Phone 8 when the OS was released.

Windows Phone 8.1 is expected to be available this April, where it will be launched at Microsoft’s Build Conference.

“We will not have the same experience as we had when Windows Phone 8 was upgraded to Windows 8,” Greg Sullivan, head of publication relations at Windows Phone said to Computerworld in an interview.

“We won’t run out of head space on Windows Phone 8 any time soon.”

According to Trusted Reviews, rumored features of the new mobile OS include a swipe-down notification centre and access to a quick settings menu. Windows Phone 8.1 is also rumored to have a Siri-like personal digital assistant dubbed Cortana.

Cortana will replace the existing Bing search feature, which will allow the user to get contextual information through voice input. It will also offer reminders and expected traveling times to your destinations.

Trusted Reviews noted that other features include separate media playback and ringtone controls, VPN support and Windows 8.1 style Bing Smart Searches.

If there would be any delays on the Windows Phone 8.1, it would be caused by the network providers who will be distributing the update.