HTC Windows Phone 8X gains unexpected features in first OS update

The first update to Microsoft's Windows Phone 8 OS hit the HTC Windows Phone 8X on Monday, and with it came some unexpected features.

The Windows Phone 8 "Portico" update brought the OS from version 9905 to 10211 and was delivered to HTC's flagship Windows Phone 8 device over-the-air.

In addition to the expected improvements to Wi-Fi functionality and fixes for a bug that caused the device to spontaneously reboot, Windows Phone 8 Portico included at least three unexpected SMS features, according to enthusiast blog Windows Phone Central.

Those features make using text messages on the Windows Phone 8X all the easier.

SMS improvements

The Windows Phone 8 10211 Portico update added three SMS features to the HTC Windows Phone 8X that were reportedly not in the update's release notes.

First, users can now save drafts of text messages that can be viewed and sent later.

Windows Phone 8X users can also use a new "select all" option when deleting messages, making the process significantly faster than selecting each message one-by-one.

Finally, a text-back option for rejecting calls has been added, allowing users to compose and select pre-determined responses or type in custom ones on the fly when rejecting a call.

More updates to come

The Windows Phone 8 Portico update arrived first on the HTC 8X on Monday, but its exact release schedule is unclear.

Will Portico arrive on other Windows Phone 8 devices? Will Windows Phone 8 handsets on all carriers receive the update? Are there any other undocumented functions or features that have yet to be discovered?

TechRadar has reached out to Microsoft to get some answers, but the company has not yet responded.