14 DAY TRIAL // Part of the “essential features that are missing from Windows Phone” saga, smart dialing is very likely to become available on devices powered by Microsoft's platform in the coming months.
Later this year, Windows 10 is very likely to bring back smart dialing, a feature that was previously available in Windows Mobile but removed in Windows Phone 7 and 8 for no clear reason. Truth is, we indeed have copy and paste, but smart dialing to simply type the first letters of a contact's name and then access their details is much more helpful than anything else.
A video demonstration that Microsoft showed at WinHEC in China confirms that smart dialing is on its way and could work pretty much as everyone expects.
Basically, when you open the dialing pad, you simply type the first letters of a contact's name and the operating system opens a list with all entries that match your search. With a tap you can open any contact's card and access their full details, so you can call, text, or edit information.
Windows 10 for phones to launch during the summer
Microsoft hasn't provided any specifics on the release date of Windows 10, pretty much because the new operating system is still under development, but it's believed that it could see the light of day during the summer for both PCs and smartphones.
Windows 10 is likely to reach RTM in June if everything goes according to plan, while full availability is prepared for August, sources says.
As far as phones are concerned, all Windows Phone 8.1 devices will be upgradeable to Windows 10, including those with 512 MB of RAM. Microsoft, however, confirmed that these devices would get a somewhat limited experience on Windows 10, as their hardware capabilities prevent them from running all features of the new operating system.
The desktop version of Windows 10 will be free within the first year of availability, while the phone version will be offered free of charge to all devices running WP 8.1.
