Microsoft Windows 10 Release Date News: Preview of Windows 10 Mobile Released

Microsoft has made a preview of Windows 10 mobile available to the public four months after unveiling the first build of Windows 10 Technical Preview.

It is a version of the Windows 10 operating system that is ultimately designed to run on ARM-based Windows phones as well as small tablets and phablets based on ARM and Intel.

"Since we're building Windows 10 to be the same core platform for PCs, tablets and phones, it should be no surprise that participating in the program for phones will work pretty much the same way it has been working for PCs," Microsoft's Gabe Aul said in a blog post on Thursday, according to the Register.

To participate, you'll need to join the Windows Insider program, which involves agreeing to both its Terms of Use and a lengthy privacy policy, the Register explained.

The idea behind this is for Preview users to help Microsoft refine its OS. By signing up for the program you'll be agreeing to ship all sorts of information back to the Microsoft head office in Redmond, Washington.

In the case of the phone OS, this includes "phone call and SMS data," although Microsoft says it doesn't collect "numeric sequences such as phone numbers, the Register added.

The release of the Windows 10 mobile preview comes over a week after the release of the first public preview of touch-first Office for Windows 10 desktop users.

This first preview is available for installation only on certain Windows Phone devices, specifically Lumia 630, 635, 636, 638, 730 and 830 devices, according to Microsoft officials, CNET revealed.

The Preview will also collect what Microsoft calls "Experience Data," which includes such information as how long it takes you to complete tasks with the OS and information about all aspects of the Program software and services.

These include device performance, user interface interactions, and feature and application usage, including third party applications."