14 DAY TRIAL // The Windows 10 event that Microsoft will be holding later today will also witness the unveiling of the very first Windows Phone 10 preview, but contrary to what people expected, this early build won’t be released to users during or after the show.
Instead, a new report claims that Microsoft will be waiting until February to do it, most likely to add a few more refinements to the build and make it more stable before shipping it to users.
Microsoft will, however, show a video demonstration of Windows Phone 10 preview in action and present some of the features that will be part of the release, Mary Jo Foley of ZDNet claims.
Windows Phone 10, which could actually launch under a completely new name, will work not only on phones but also on ARM and Intel tablets, which is actually the first step that Microsoft makes to bring together phones and tablets.
As a result, Windows RT as a platform will disappear and devices with ARM chips, as is the case of Surface RT and Surface 2, will be powered by the same operating system as phones.
New Office for Windows Phone
During the same event, Microsoft is also expected to discuss new details about a redesigned version of Office for Windows Phone, but again, the company is very unlikely to release it to users during or shortly after the event taking place today.
The new Office for Windows Phone is very likely to look a lot like the one on iOS, and sources claim that Microsoft could release separate apps in the Windows Phone, which means that users will be able to download Word, Excel, and PowerPoint as standalone apps.
Obviously, all apps will be free for Windows Phone users, as is the case on iOS, but full details will be unveiled by Microsoft’s executives later today.
The event kicks off at 9 am PT (19:00 GMT+2) at Microsoft’s headquarters in Redmond. Terry Myerson, Joe Belfiore and CEO Satya Nadella will take the stage to detail the consumer experience in Windows 10.