New Delhi, January 22 – Microsoft on Wednesday said that Windows 10, its next version of Windows, will be available for free to Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users for one year after its launch.
This means that when the final version of Windows 10 comes to market, expected in the third quarter of 2015, people who have genuine version of Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 on their computers will be able to get it for free for at least one year after its launch.
“I’m very excited to announce that for the first year after Windows 10 is a available, we will be making available a free upgrade to Windows 10 to all devices running Windows 8.1 (and Windows 7),” said Terry Myerson, executive vice president of Microsoft’s Operating Systems group.
He added that it future updates to the OS will also be free. “This is more than a one-time upgrade: once a Windows device is upgraded to Windows 10, we will continue to keep it current for the supported lifetime of the device — at no additional charge,” added Myerson.
Offering its one of the most used and important software for free also marks a historic change in how Microsoft approaches business and how it may be looking to move to a model where it will rely on services and enterprise software for its revenue instead of packaged software.
This is similar to the how Google and Apple approach software. Both these companies provide most of their software for free. While Google on advertising for its revenue, Apple is dependent on the hardware sale.
Microsoft said that users of Windows Phone 8.1 will also get the free upgrade to Windows 10. This means Microsoft is looking to use one operating system across all platforms, including phones and tablets.
Apple already offers Mac OS X, which power iMac and MacBooks, for free. Google also offers Chrome OS, which powers Chromebooks, for free. For consumers, updates to new versions of iOS, Windows Phone and Android are also free, whenever they are available.
-INDIA TODAY
