[Updated:Microsoft clarification] You can no longer get Windows 10 Mobile on unsupported devices

Windows 10 Mobile’s Anniversary Update may be right around the corner, but certain Windows Phone users may never get the chance to even taste the new OS.

Earlier this year, all Windows Phone 8.1 Lumias and a select few other phones could get Windows 10 Mobile, provided they signed up for the Windows Insider Program and downloaded the new bits from one of the available rings.

Even after Microsoft’s Windows 10 Update rolled out officially and the firm blocked older devices from accessing the fast ring, old users ould still make use of the Release Preview ring to hop right to Windows 10 Mobile and take advantage of the new apps and benefits that come with the new OS.

Now reports are rolling in that new users can no longer take advantage of the Release Preview work around. Rather, any user who’s stuck on 8.1 will have seen their last update, while users who are on Windows 10 November Update will have to make do with that os version warts and all. They can not roll back to 8.1 without being stuck there, nor can they progress on to Windows 10 Mobile Anniversary Update, leaving them trapped between a rock and a hard place.

Of course, the devices which are being orphaned are older ones so perhaps Microsoft doesn’t deem it cost efficient to update older models to Windows 10, especially when there are newer Windows phones for all price points, and Microsoft’s services for Mobile extend outside Windows.

Are you affected by this? Let us know in the comments below.

Update: Microsoft released a small post stating the following:

Earlier this year when we launched Windows 10 Mobile, we announced a series of changes to Windows 10 Mobile Insider Preview Program, including details of our launch of Windows 10 Mobile as well as changes to the supported Windows 10 Mobile Insider Preview devices.

With the upcoming release of the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, the Release Preview ring is moving to Windows 10 Mobile Insider Preview build 14393. This change will have some impact on unsupported device:

• As stated before, unsupported devices will not receive any builds or updates newer than 10586.x
• Unsupported devices will not be able to select any Windows Insider Preview rings in the Windows Insider app
• Updates to apps and services may not be available for unsupported devices and in some cases may limit certain experiences

Unsupported devices can still use the Windows Device Recovery Tool to recover to Windows Phone 8.1, but will not have the option to return to Windows 10 Mobile.

As always, we appreciate our Insiders and thank you for your participation in the Windows Insider Program.

That’s it. Its over  folks. Get a newer Windows phone if you want to stick on the platform, or get a consumer mobile OS so you can enjoy Microsoft’s mobile services AND more.