Windows Phone 8.1 codenamed “Blue” has been rumoured for a long time now, ever since Microsoft confirmed the existence of Windows 8.1(also codenamed “Blue”). While Windows 8.1 has seen its release right on time, with a developer preview in June last year and commercial release by October, we are yet to see even a glimpse of Windows Phone 8.1, which we were hoping to be delivered as fast as the first Windows 8 update. Now, fresh rumours from reliable Mary Jo Foley, ZDNet, reveal that Windows Phone is all set for a April reveal, with developers getting the preview first and general availability later. This comes after rumours of a Cortana reveal, which is a virtual assistant and very much a part of Windows Phone that coincides with Microsoft’s developer event at the same time – Build 2014.
To expand upon the information available, apparently the RTM(Release to Manufacturing – a process in which Microsoft releases the bits to OEMs) build of Windows Phone 8.1 will be released just ahead of the Build 2014 event, where Microsoft hopes to unveil a lot of new features of the latest update. The developers will reportedly get to preview the release through the Developer Preview Program that started with the GDR3 release, but the consumers will reportedly get it only by early Summer, according to AAWP’s sources. It is expected that the new devices, which might be released between now and Build, get the latest update first and eventually, a roll out to all the other Windows Phone 8 devices.
Grander plans from Microsoft point to an unified app store and developer APIs for the Windows Threshold update, which is expected sometime in April next year. This will supposedly bring all the Microsoft platforms closer than ever, which has been the promise for quite a while now. We will be seeing what happens, as we watch this development closely and let you know when something interesting breaks cover. Until then, what do you think Microsoft needs to do to make Windows Phone 8.1 better than the current iteration? Let us know in the comments section below, might make for an interesting discussion.