Windows Phone 8.1 Developer preview is now available for all to download

Windows Phone 8.1 is now available for all. The developer preview is now available for download which includes the new Action Center and more importantly Cortana voice assistant. All you need to do is sign up for a free Windows Phone developer account and start a project.

Here's the step by step process:

• Go to the Windows Phone App Studio web page and sign-up with your Microsoft account.
• Start your own project, you don't have to actually build or publish it.
• Download the companion Windows Phone app.
• Then check for the software update on your phone by going into update section.
• Since all Windows Phone 8 devices are compatible with the update, you will see the update notification.

There's the usual warning that goes with any pre-release software, first is that you would void the warranty on your smartphone and you can't roll-back to Windows Phone 8. So, if there are any issues in the build you would have to wait for Microsoft to fix them with updates till the final retail update is available for the device from the manufacturer. Then Cortana is at present US only, so you would have to change the region of your phone to US in order to experience it.

Its definitely not for the faint at heart. So through caution to the wind and jump onboard the Windows Phone 8.1 bandwagon.