EXCLUSIVE:
After months of anticipation and a mix of official and internally-communicated delays, Microsoft’s long-awaited Windows 10 Mobile upgrade is on the eve of being deployed. Playing its cards incredibly close to the chest, the company will announce its same-day availability on March 17, according to a person familiar with the company’s plans.
As previously reported by VentureBeat in a story pointing to March as the latest intended rollout target, legacy, in-market devices selected to receive the upgrade will initially need to initiate it manually. This is known as the pull model (and which is distinct from a Microsoft-triggered push model, which will follow at an undisclosed date).
The specific Nokia- and Microsoft-branded Lumias approved for the update are an even more closely-guarded secret, and will not be revealed until a Microsoft announcement tomorrow, according to the briefed individual.
After missing a publicly-messaged December rollout target, as well as an internal one in February, this update for Windows Phone 8.1 handsets has become something of a white whale for Windows fans. Tomorrow, the whale will finally reveal itself.