Microsoft has confirmed that it has started rolling out the Lumia Denim software update to the Lumia 1020 and the Lumia 925 smartphones in select European markets. This news comes as O2 in the UK have confirmed their versions of both phones will receive the OTA update to Denim later tonight .

As usual, this rollout will take days or even weeks to complete, thanks to the different update schedules of wireless carriers around the world. For example, the Lumia 1020 is an exclusive in the US for AT&T and so far there's no word on when Denim will be launched for that device. We will, of course, post the word when the update is available for the AT&T Lumia 1020.

Details of the update were provided by Microsoft for both phones.

Latest software release for Nokia Lumia 925 is Lumia Denim (3051.50009.1451.10xx/8.10.14226.359)

Cortana, the most personal digital assistant, is now available also in the UK and China. New features for Cortana include improved natural language, car kit integration for contacts using Bluetooth, snooze reminders, and calendar improvements. Cortana even does character impersonations upon request.

Organise and further personalise your start screen easily. Group apps into a folder on the start screen, rename the folder, and rearrange tiles inside the folder for greater personalisation.

Improved Glance screen with Bing Weather or Bing Health & Fitness data, in addition to time and date, notifications, and app data.

Updates to the Lumia Storyteller and Lumia Selfie apps. Available from Store.

Connect and browse even faster with improved download speeds on mobile websites.

Install phone updates more easily by scheduling them for a time that works best for you.

Additional improvements to stability, battery performance, push notifications, WiFi connectivity, consumer VPN support, Apps Corner, merging and forwarding text messages, custom snooze times in the Alarms app, Store Live Tile (available in the US only), and more.

Latest software release for Nokia Lumia 1020 is Lumia Denim (3051.50009.1451.1xxx/8.10.14226.359)

Cortana, the most personal digital assistant, is now available also in the UK and China. New features for Cortana include improved natural language, car kit integration for contacts using Bluetooth, snooze reminders, and calendar improvements. Cortana even does character impersonations upon request.

Organise and further personalise your start screen easily. Group apps into a folder on the start screen, rename the folder, and rearrange tiles inside the folder for greater personalisation.

Improved Glance screen with Bing Weather or Bing Health & Fitness data, in addition to time and date, notifications, and app data.

Updates to the Lumia Storyteller and Lumia Selfie apps. Available from Store.

Connect and browse even faster with improved download speeds on mobile websites.

Install phone updates more easily by scheduling them for a time that works best for you.

Additional improvements to stability, battery performance, push notifications, WiFi connectivity, consumer VPN support, Apps Corner, merging and forwarding text messages, custom snooze times in the Alarms app, Store Live Tile (available in the US only), and more.

Source: Microsoft; Thanks to Vicky for the tip!