Microsoft begins rolling out Windows Phone Mango. Can it boost suffering sales?

Software giant Microsoft has now begun rolling out its next-gen mobile platform, Windows Phone 7.5, or "Mango."

First announced back in May, the major operating system update claims 500 improvements, including deepened integration with Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Windows Live.

However, Mango still just 30,000 apps—a mere fraction of mobile leaders Apple and Google. And even Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer admitted the company's mobile arm is selling poorly.

Nokia, which forged a strategic partnership with Microsoft at the start of the year, is expected to launch Mango-powered devices by the end of the year.