Responding to a customer's question about the future of Windows Phone device updates, Microsoft has pledged to update all current Lumia handsets running Windows Phone 8 to Windows 10 when the operating system is released next year.

This is welcome news for current Windows Phone users, who have previously been left out in the cold when it comes to updates. At the launch of Windows Phone 8, previous users of the platform where disappointed to discover that their handsets were not going to be updated from Windows Phone 7 to the new OS, instead receiving one last update to the not-as-good Windows Phone 7.8.

Windows Phone 7 devices couldn't be updated to WP8 due to the kernel change between the two OSes, but this is not going to be an issue moving to Windows 10. If Microsoft manages to keep their word and update every Lumia to Windows 10, it'll certainly make those who've bought Windows Phones over the past two years very happy.

Speaking of Windows 10, there's no current word out of Redmond on when we can expect the OS to arrive, aside from a vague mid-2015 launch timeframe. Even though the phone variant will be largely the same OS as the variant running on tablets, desktops, laptops and the Xbox One, it's also not known if Microsoft will release all the versions at the same time.