New Delhi, March 19 – Earlier in the day, Microsoft announced that Windows 10 will launch in the summer in 190 countries. It will be available in 111 languages. However, that is in line with Microsoft’s schedule and how it releases its Windows operating system.
What is going to be the new — and significantly more important for users — this time is that it will be available for free to Windows 8 and Windows 7 users, even if they are running pirated version of the operating system.
Microsoft’s Terry Myerson told Reuters that even users of pirated copies of Windows 7 and Windows 8 will be eligible for the free update to Windows 10. “We are upgrading all qualified PCs, genuine and non-genuine, to Windows 10,” he told Reuters in a telephonic interview.
Myerson made the comments in context of Windows users in China. He said that the plan will allow Microsoft to “re-engage” with millions of consumers in China. But it seems what is true for China will be true for other countries as well even though for now Microsoft has not openly admitted it.
The long-term plan, apparently, is to make the operating system free the way Apple has done it for consumers. Keeping this context it seems natural that going forward when it comes to updates, Microsoft may not differentiate among users unless these users are institutional buyers or business customers.
We have reached out to Microsoft India for confirmation regarding the free upgrade for pirated users of Windows in India. We are yet to get a confirmation but will update the story when we get a response.
-INDIA TODAY
