Microsoft has just announced the first ever update for its Windows Phone 8.1 operating system. The upgrade provides new security features and alters Cortana to better suit different languages and cultures.

The new version of the operating system, imaginatively named "Windows Phone 8.1 Update," alters Cortana to cater to new markets. The digital assistant tool, which is being released in beta in China and the UK, has been fitted with additional features specifically for users in those countries.

In China, Windows Phone users will be provided with an alternate version of Cortana. The Chinese variant of the personal digital assistant has different looks, sounds and animations compared to other versions. Chinese Cortana has Mandarin support for speech, voice and text. It also provides suggestions that are tailored to Chinese users. For instance, it can provide information like air quality readings, driving restrictions and updates on local celebrities and TV shows. Cortana can also help Chinese English students by looking up words in Microsoft's Bing dictionary.

In the UK, Cortana has been fitted with a local accent. This means that users would get their restaurant recommendations and weather updates in a homelier manner. Aside from acquiring a fancy accent, Cortana would also spell words in a British way (i.e. "colour" instead of "color"). The digital assistant has also been altered to provide local data such as London Stock Exchange updates and English Premier League scores.

"We know there has been a lot of enthusiasm about Cortana in many other markets, and we wanted to give more people the ability to start using Cortana," Joe Belfiore, Microsoft's Corporate Vice President and manager for Windows Phone, said in a blog post. 

Aside from the beta in China and the UK, "alpha" versions of Cortana would also be available in Canada, India and Australia. Belfiore also promised a number of Cortana improvements for Windows Phone owners in the US, such as snooze time for reminders, natural language scenarios and personality enhancements such as the ability to do impressions. 

Other improvements included in the update are Live Folders (apps can now be organized into folders on the phone's start screen), SMS merge and forwarding and Apps corner controls. The upgrade also lets users connect to Wi-Fi hotspots with a VPN for added security. 

There's no solid timeline for when the update would be released. However, Belfiore said that it will roll out to consumers over the coming months. For developers, the upgrade would be available by next week.