Early in 2014, Microsoft launched the Preview for Developers app for Windows Phone, which lets users get access to early OS updates directly from Microsoft rather than waiting around for their carrier to push them out. Now it looks like the folks in Redmond may have a new version of the app for Windows 10.
A new “Phone Insider” app for Windows Phone has been published to the Windows Phone Store by Microsoft. The description of the app says that it gives “registered Windows Insiders the ability to receive pre-release OS updates on their phone, directly from Microsoft.” The app icon is similar to the one used for the aforementioned Preview for Developers app.
So what’s up? Well, it’s been suggested that the Phone Insider app could give users early previews of Windows 10 for mobile, similar to how Preview for Developers gives early updates of Windows Phone 8.1. The Windows Insider program lets you get Windows 10 preview builds on your computer, and so “Phone Insider” could be a phone version of the Windows Insider program.
It’s also worth noting that Gabriel Aul, a member of Microsoft’s Windows 10 group, recently hinted on Twitter that more details about the Phone Insider app will be revealed on January 21. A Twitter user asked Aul for more insight on the app, asking if it’s meant for public use, and Aul replied “More details on the 21st, but the app is available to everyone so…”. Microsoft is hosting a Windows 10: The next chapter event on January 21 at which we’ll hear more about Windows 10, and Windows Phone head Joe Belfiore is scheduled to speak at the event.
Obviously none of this is official until Microsoft says it is. However, many folks like the Preview for Developers program because it gives them a chance to try out early builds of Windows Phone updates, and so I could see Microsoft doing it again with Windows 10. Plus, the company’s already letting the public test Windows 10 for computers, so a similar program for Windows Phone seems possible.