14 DAY TRIAL // The Windows 10 event taking place today will indeed bring a lot of news for Microsoft enthusiasts across the world, but it’s no secret that, in addition to all those who use at least one product developed by the software giant, company rivals are also likely to keep an eye on announcements.
And it’s easy to see why. 2015 is going to be quite a critical year for Microsoft, as the software vendor is trying to refresh the lineup of its most important products, including Windows and Windows Phone, but also add new ones that could help it expand into markets where it’s yet to succeed, such as hardware.
But there’s a reason all Android and iOS users should keep an eye on today’s Windows 10 event, and that is Windows Phone 10.
Plenty of Windows Phone news today
In addition to the consumer experience in Windows 10, Microsoft will also present the very first public build of Windows Phone 10, a revamped version of its mobile operating system that’s supposed to give the company a boost on smartphones and help it compete with rivals.
Statistics put Windows Phone on the third place of all charts, after Android and iOS, and give it almost zero chances to get closer to its rivals anytime soon.
That’s why Windows Phone 10 is such a critical product for Microsoft. With this release, the company is hoping to finally offer users a powerful alternative to iOS and Android, both of which are getting the lion’s share in almost every single market across the world.
Little is known about the features that Microsoft is planning to talk about today, but sources have claimed that an early build will indeed be demoed by Joe Belfiore in anticipation of a public release taking place in February.
“Windows 10 Preview will be released to users in early February.”
The user interface will definitely be revamped, and while it won’t be by any means similar to iOS and Android, it could also appeal to those using a rival platform thanks to visual tweaks.
We’re hearing that the early builds of Windows Phone do not come with such a big number of aesthetic improvements, but it remains to be seen what exactly Microsoft plans to disclose today.
The most important thing, however, in the race against iOS and Android is the way Microsoft wants to tackle the lack of apps. It’s a well-known fact that Windows Phone doesn’t have the same number of apps as its key competitors, and Microsoft is willing to fix that with the new release.
The “One Store” approach is very likely to be the fix, sources say, as Microsoft is ready to push the universal app concept one step further and allow devs to create apps that work on all platforms, including desktops, tablets, and phones, with just a single store across all devices.
There were rumors pointing to the possibility of seeing Android apps running on Windows Phone, but we’re hearing that no announcement in this regard will be made today.
More news at MWC 2015
While Windows Phone 10 will indeed make it to the show today, it won’t be the key subject of the day. Instead, Microsoft only wants to update users with some news on the project and let them know that a new version is indeed coming.
At the same time, Redmond could announce a new insider program specifically created for phones, which would follow in the footsteps of the desktop sibling.
And yet, MWC 2015, which will take place in March in Barcelona, has more chances to witness big announcements from Microsoft in regard to mobile phones. New Lumias and a fresh preview build are also expected at MWC.
And yet, there’s no doubt that today’s event will be really interesting to watch, no matter if you’re a Microsoft fan or not.
Here is the official Windows 10 event starting time for different cities across the world.