The Windows Phone platform has struggled to find the same success as its Android and iOS rivals. Microsoft is attempting to change this with Windows 10 Mobile, a new smartphone operating system designed to synchronise with the well-received Windows 10 desktop and tablet OS.
The two have been developed separately. Windows 10 is already rolling out to users, and we'll soon see whether Microsoft can repeat the core version's success on smartphones. For now, here's everything you need to know about Windows 10 Phone. We'll add more updates as further information is revealed.
Release dateLike Windows 10 prior to its launch, test builds of Windows 10 Mobile are already available to members of the Windows Insider programme. It's still possible to sign up as an Insider, so owners of compatible handsets (see supported devices below) can try out an incomplete version of the OS right now.
No specific date has been confirmed for the final product release. Officially, Microsoft said: "Broad availability of Windows 10 on other devices [besides PCs and tablets], including mobile phones, will begin rolling out this fall."
Further to this, Anthony Doherty, Microsoft South Africa's Windows and Surface Business Group lead, suggested to iafrica.com a tentative "November timeframe" for the Windows 10 Mobile launch. We attempted to confirm this with Microsoft, and were directed to the "rolling out this fall" statement.
PriceWindows 10 Mobile will be a free upgrade to certain Windows Phone 8.1 handsets, so like its predecessor, as well as Android and iOS, it won't be a paid-for product. The only requirement, besides owning a suitable phone, is to install the Lumia Denim software update beforehand.
The downside is that control over when each phone will receive the upgrade lies entirely with Microsoft. Furthermore, if Windows 10 is any indication, not all eligible users will see their phones upgraded on launch day. It could be released in waves, with some handsets receiving the update days or even weeks before others.
Supported devicesMicrosoft announced at the 2015 Mobile World Congress in March that devices currently running Windows Phone 8.1 will be upgradeable to Windows 10 Mobile by the end of this year.
However, the company has only confirmed a limited list of Microsoft/Nokia Windows Phones due to upgrade to Windows 10 Mobile once it launches: the Lumia 430, 435, 532, 535, 540, 640, 640 XL, 735, 830 and 930.
This excludes the Lumia 520, 530, 625, 630, 635, 925, 1020, 1320 and 1520, all of which are still being sold on Microsoft's website. That isn't to say these devices will never be upgradeable to Windows 10 Mobile, but Microsoft may stagger the rollout by temporarily limiting it to certain devices.
In any case, hope remains even for non-Nokia smartphones. The HTC One M8 For Windows isn't included on Microsoft's list, but recently received its first compatible Windows 10 Mobile Insider build.
Microsoft also confirmed to V3 plans to release "flagship phones for Windows 10 later this year", although no further specifics were given.
FeaturesIt may be a few months off, but Windows 10 Mobile is already equipped with a range of interesting features.
For instance, data and settings, as well as things like alarms and notifications, will automatically sync between a Windows 10 Mobile handset and a Windows 10 machine logged in under the same Microsoft account.
This is part of an attempt by Microsoft to ensure that Windows 10 Mobile mirrors the full Windows 10 as closely as possible. Windows 10 Mobile also includes OneDrive, so documents and photos can be synced with Windows 10 desktops, laptops and tablets via the cloud.
Universal Apps are another key tool in Microsoft's plan to homogenise the mobile and desktop experiences. Comprising first-party and third-party apps vetted by Microsoft, Universal Apps will work on Windows 10 and Windows 10 Mobile, and share feature parity across the two platforms, right down to similar or identical UIs.
Currently confirmed Universal Apps include Microsoft Office Mobile and Microsoft Edge, a new and much-improved replacement browser for Internet Explorer.
Cortana, Microsoft's digital assistant, reappears in Windows 10 Mobile after being introduced in Windows Phone 8.1. Cortana can still be used to set up reminders and search the web, but has received a few upgrades.
It'll be possible to send emails via voice commands in Windows 10 Mobile, for instance, and Cortana will tailor search results according to the user's tastes and preferences.
These preferences - for certain music, films, food and the like - can be added directly, or Cortana can 'learn' them over time. The digital assistant is also integrated into the Edge browser, and can search for highlighted words, names and locations without navigating away from the page.
A redesigned Action Centre is also present. Similar to its excellent Windows 10 counterpart, the Windows 10 Mobile Action Centre is a highly versatile menu that, in addition to listing notifications, provides quick access to and/or toggle buttons for the Camera app, Airplane Mode, WiFi settings, brightness settings, Bluetooth, torch, VPN setup tool, rotation lock, general Settings menu and more.
The Windows 10 Mobile interface isn't too far off that of Windows Phone 8.1, although it has been updated to look a bit more modern. Live Tiles are translucent, so they don't completely block out custom backgrounds, and a new list of recently installed apps is now instantly accessible by swiping to the right on the home screen.
One of the most attractive features of Windows 10 Mobile is its newfound compatibility with Android and iOS apps. Microsoft has announced various toolkits aimed at getting app developers to port their creations to the new Windows OS.
These include one that will enable Android Java and C++ code to run on Windows 10 Mobile, and one that allows developers to compile iOS objective C - used for iPhone and iPad apps - in Visual Studio to create a Windows version.
In theory, this should result in a much greater selection of Windows 10 Mobile apps compared with Windows Phone 8.1.
Security and privacyUniversal Apps sees Microsoft taking the Apple-like position of requiring the app to run in its own sandbox. In the event that the app is infected with malware, this should stop the infection spreading, as the app's processes are run separately from the rest of the system.
Developers needn't worry too much about Windows 10 Mobile becoming a closed-off ecosystem entirely under Microsoft's control, as only apps with Universal App functionality will need to meet the sandbox requirement.
A recent Windows Insider build update also added a Device Encryption function for securing the handset's internal storage, similar to a feature offered in Android. It's entirely optional, but should add a welcome layer of additional protection.
Lastly, Windows 10 Mobile will add the ability to set individual app permissions for location, something that was missing in Windows Phone 8 and 8.1.
Source: Windows 10 Mobile release date, price, devices and features
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