Windows 10 will be a free upgrade, even for those running pirated copies

Microsoft is making its biggest move in battle against piracy in consumer computing market this summer by offering free upgrades to Windows 10 to all Windows users, regardless of whether they are genuine or not.

Previously Microsoft announced that Windows 10 will be offered as a free upgrade to users running Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 along with Windows Phone 8.1 users during the first year of launch.

During the WinHEC technology conference in Shenzhen China, Microsoft’s Terry Myerson announced the company's plans regarding the Windows 10 upgrade

"We are upgrading all qualified PCs, genuine and non-genuine, to Windows 10,” he said in a telephone interview with Reuters. The plan is to "re-engage" with the hundreds of millions of users of Windows in China, he said, without elaboration.

The new announcement is good news to those running pirated versions of Windows. According to reports three-quarters of all PC software is not properly licensed in China. Studies have also reveled that in a lot of cases pirated Windows licenses are installed on new machines without customers even knowing they have an illegal copy.

Windows 10 brings the best features of Windows 7 and Windows 8, while adding a whole new set of features borrowed from Windows Phone. The new version of Windows will be totally universal, with apps spanning across PCs, Tablets and Phones. You also get a notification center, Cortana integration, multi-desktop mode and much more.

This free upgrade to Windows 10 will help Microsoft grow userbase of its next operating system, which will eventually grow its developer opportunity.


source - Reuters