Microsoft adds telephony APIs back to Windows 10 test version

Microsoft has again added telephony APIs to a test build of Windows 10, after removing them in the Fall Creators Update last year. The addition takes place in the latest version of the Redstone 5 build.

Twitter user WalkingCat noticed the change on. He has posted an overview online of the differences between Insider build 17643 and the build with version number 17650, which came out on April 19. It shows that Microsoft has put back several APIs related to making calls, such as PhoneCallManager and PhoneDialOptions. They were missing since the Fall Creators Update. Redstone 5 is the version of Windows that comes after the upcoming update.

It’s unclear why Microsoft chose to put the APIs back now. CEO Satya Nadella did say last year that Microsoft wants to make a smartphone “that creates a new category,” referring to Surface devices. There have also been rumors about the possible arrival of a Surface phone for some time, although Microsoft has not presented anything in that direction so far.

In 2016, Microsoft presented a version of Windows 10 that can run x86 applications on an ARM processor. These processors can be found in smartphones, among other things. The company initially sees applications for laptops, for example, Windows laptops have now appeared based on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon socs. It is possible that Microsoft also provides these so-called ‘always-on’ devices with telephony capabilities.