Microsoft said yesterday that Windows Phone 8.1 would be made available through its Preview for Developers app in the first part of April. That's rather vague, but thanks to a couple of new rumors, we may now have a more precise launch timing to look forward to.

Reports from Neowin and The Verge claim that Microsoft is currently aiming to being pushing Windows Phone 8.1 to developers on April 14. The Redmond firm is reportedly still making some final tweaks to the update, but it's said that Microsoft is hoping to have everything done in time for an April 14 push. Microsoft has said that hardware with WP8.1 preinstalled is expected to begin arriving in May and that updates for existing Windows Phone 8 devices should begin in the "next few months."

Launched late last year, the Preview for Developers app enables any registered developer to download an app and then get access to developer builds of Windows Phone. While registration for becoming an official Windows Phone developer costs $19 per year, anyone can sign up to use the Windows Phone App Studio for free and gain access to the Preview for Developers app that way. Doing so will be a great way to try out Windows Phone 8.1 ahead of the general public, especially since you don't have to worry about your carrier pushing an update when you upgrade using this method.

Via Neowin, The Verge