If you're a Windows Phone user, then you surely wonder when exactly Microsoft will provide you with the highly anticipated Windows 10 Mobile upgrade.

That's if you don't plan to pre-order the Lumia 950, Lumia 950 XL or Lumia 550, in which case you won't have to wait for the update because these devices ship with Windows 10 Mobile right out of the box.

Microsoft announced earlier this month that Windows 10 Mobile would be released sometime in December, but there is no info on when exactly the updates will start going out.

We assume the unlocked Lumias will be the first to receive the upgrade, soon followed by carrier-branded smartphones.

Since carriers need some time to test any software update provided by handset makers, it means their customers will receive these updates later than unlocked variants of the same devices.

We're still two months away from Windows 10 Mobile's release

In case you're wondering how long you will have to wait for Windows 10 Mobile to arrive on your carrier-branded Lumia phones, then read on for the answer.

The folks over at WMPU have reached out to Microsoft in order to clarify the method the company will use to push out Windows 10 Mobile updates to Lumia phones. Below is Microsoft's official statement:

“Microsoft is working closely with mobile operators to leverage their testing and our flighting to meet and exceed current quality bars. We will use their input but will decide when to send the updates out based on input form Mobile Operators and our Windows Insiders.”

“The optimum way to ensure our customers are running the best Windows is to get them the latest updates for Windows 10. Delivering Windows 10 as a service means we can offer ongoing security updates, new features and capabilities - we’d like to make sure people can get access to the latest Windows 10 updates as soon as they are available.”

Basically, this means that if you own a carrier-branded smartphone, you will have to wait until Microsoft decides that the update is ready to be released.

However, carriers will still test the updates released by Microsoft for Windows Phone devices, but the Redmond-based company will be the one to push them out when they decide to.