Previously, it was hinted that Microsoft would release the much-anticipated successor to the highly criticized Windows 8.1 in the fall of this year, as TechRadar noted.
However, it appears that the computing giant decided to launch Windows 10 sooner - a news that is sure to be welcome by many Windows OS users. What's even more special is that the upgrade will be free, even to those who got a pirated version of the system.
"Windows 7 and 8 users who don't have a valid Windows license will get a free bump up to Windows 10," Wired confirmed. "It's a surprising move given the importance that Microsoft has placed on Windows license revenue in the past, and the lengths Microsoft has gone to to prevent the spread of pirated copies of the operating system."
Looks like Microsoft is trying out a new tack in a bid to cut down piracy.
"We continue to make great development progress and shared today that Windows 10 will be available this summer in 190 countries and 111 languages," announced Terry Myerson, Microsoft's executive VP.
In an interview with Reuters, Myerson confirmed tht the upgrade will cover both "genuine and non-genuine" PCs.
"The plan is to 're-engage' with the hundreds of millions of users of Windows in China, he said, without elaboration," the news source said.
Back in January, the company had said that it will offer Windows 10 upgrades to all Windows 7 (or later) users for free, as Microsoft's "attempt to hold onto users and make up for lost revenue by selling services such as Office over the Internet."
In addition, the company is collaborating with Lenovo Group Ltd., currently the biggest PC manufacturer in the world, to help launch Windows 10 to the OS' users in China.
"It also is offering Windows 10 through security company Qihoo 360 Technology Co and Tencent Holdings Ltd, China's biggest social networking company, which will build a Windows 10 app that will work on smartphones and PCs for its popular QQ gaming and messaging service," Reuters went on to say. "QQ has more than 800 million users."
Microsoft certainly got its eye on China, as it is not content to collaborate with two Chinese companies for its upcoming OS rollout. It had also brokered a deal with Xiaomi Technology Co Ltd, a Chinese gadget maker, to "offer some customers a test version of Windows 10 on their smartphones."
Wired noted that Microsoft's decision to make the upgrade free and available to all users, even those with pirated versions, may be down to its anxiety over " leaving millions of machines running outdated operating systems and software."
"Unpatched systems can spread malware and viruses, and releasing security updates for decades old platforms is costly," the tech news site said.
China, for one, has been "particularly slow" on upgrading, which necessitated the freebie upgrade to entice users in China to finally make that essential move.
One more thing - with this summer launch timeframe, will the Surface Pro 4 be released around the same time as well?
Keep checking this space for more updates.
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