Microsoft took a big step when it promised to give Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 users a free upgrade to Windows 10. While Microsoft does lose a significant source of income, others have noted how the move is actually a big step toward promoting OS consistency across devices. But when would it be available for public download?
Microsoft's Terry Myerson announced at the Chinese WinHEC Technology conference that Windows 10 would be available all over the world this summer for free, which is a lot sooner than some analysts predicted. According to Myerson, the OS will also be compatible with 110 different languages in 190 countries.
In the past, users have had to pay for Windows OS upgrades. This free option will provide users with the same level of OS. While Microsoft giving Windows 10 away for free will cause it to lose a significant portion of its yearly income, Reuters notes that it is "an attempt to hold onto users and make up for lost revenue by selling services such as Office over the Internet."
"We are upgrading all qualified PCs, genuine and non-genuine, to Windows 10," Myerson told Reuters. In other words, anyone who uses a pirated copy of Windows 7 or 8.1 will receive a legitimate copy of Windows 10, no questions asked. This is a significant move for Windows, since it means that Microsoft will be able to register the hundreds of millions of Windows 8-powered computers that are running OS via piracy.
Microsoft also announced a number of partnerships with Chinese tech firms while they were at WinHEC. These partnerships included working with Lenovo to promote Windows 10, Qihoo 360 to build a Windows-compatible version of the popular Chinese messaging app QQ, and Xiaomi to provide users with some OS variety.
Myerson wrote on the accompanying blog post that "Windows 10 is the only platform that supports innovation across such a broad family of hardware and we are committed to investing in the success of our partners and supporting their development activities."
