Microsoft is bringing Windows 10 to all Windows Phone 8.1 devices

It wouldn’t be an understatement to say that much of Microsoft’s future relies on Windows 10 for mobile being successful and there’s no way for that to happen if the operating system isn’t accessible. Many people were worried that they would need to purchase an entirely new phone to get the new operating system when it’s released but Microsoft has announced that Windows 10 will be available as an upgrade to anyone who owns a smartphone that’s already running Windows Phone 8.1. 

In January Microsoft showed off the latest iteration of its operating system, Windows 10, and it has already released preview builds for both desktop and mobile. Windows 10 for phones brings a plethora of new features for the platform. The update is set to arrive on supported devices later this year. Microsoft has reiterated that the Windows 10 for Phones update will be released to all devices that are compatible with Windows Phone 8.1. What this simply means is that if your Windows Phone smartphone is running version 8.1 then it is compatible for an upgrade to the latest iteration, but there’s a catch. During Microsoft’s press conference today at the Mobile World Congress 2015 mobile chief Stephen Elop confirmed that while the upgrade will be offered to all Windows Phone 8.1 devices, features of the new operating system will vary based on the devices’ specifications. So not all features of Windows 10 for Phones might be available for your device, particularly if it’s not a high-end model, even though it technically does support the latest software that Microsoft has to offer.