Microsoft Preparing Windows 10 for Phones Preview: Report

With Microsoft nearing the anticipated unveiling of the Windows 10 consumer preview on January 21, reports are coming in indicating a beta build for mobiles will be unveiled. The company's recently released Phone Insider app is being linked to the roll out of the beta update. The app will give registered Windows Insider users early access to pre-release OS updates.

The Phone Insider app (seen above) is sized at less than 1MB and is free to download from the Windows Phone Store. The Verge speculates the app will help the company roll out the initial preview version of Windows 10 for phones, which is also likely to miss out on some features. The app's main function is to help Microsoft's test the Windows 10 for phones preview so it can make the necessary changes in its final OS version.

Sources close to the matter told The Verge that Microsoft will give more details on Windows 10 for smartphones and tablets at the January 21 event. Specifically, the company with Windows 10 will introduce changes in the UI of Windows Phone and Windows RT that bring them more in-line the UI and desktop version and the Xbox One console.

In addition, Windows 10 for desktop will also include some changes like light and dark themes that will go in-line with the phone and tablet OS versions. We also saw a Windows 10 dark theme leak along with Spartan browser screenshots last week.

Microsoft will also be taking advantage across mobile, tablet and desktop devices with its universal app design that it introduced last year. The January 21 event is also expected to focus more towards the consumer preview of Windows 10, while the developer-related details are expected at the Build conference later in the year.