Microsoft Unveils New Ways for Consumers to Get Windows Vista
REDMOND, Wash. — Jan. 17, 2007 — Microsoft Corp.
today detailed three new methods for customers looking to buy, upgrade or
license multiple copies of Windows Vista™, the new operating system that will
be available worldwide on Jan. 30. Windows® Anytime Upgrade, Windows
Vista Family Discount and Windows Marketplace will provide customers with
greater flexibility in obtaining the new operating system and will ensure they
have the edition of Windows Vista that matches their needs.
“With the consumer launch of Windows Vista so close, we’re
excited to announce three new ways to make the purchase and upgrade experience
easier than ever,” said Brad Brooks, general manager of Windows Client
Marketing at Microsoft. “These new programs give our customers more flexibility
and choice to ensure they get the edition that’s right for them.”
Windows Anytime Upgrade Lets Customers Upgrade Anytime,
Anywhere
Windows Anytime Upgrade is a new option that allows
customers to conveniently upgrade their existing edition of Windows Vista to a
higher-grade edition by way of an online transaction. For example, if a Windows
Vista Home Premium or Windows Vista Business user decides he or she wants more
capability — perhaps to join his home PCs to secure domains at the office, or
to experience the multimedia capabilities of Windows Vista on his work laptop —
Windows Anytime Upgrade makes the process of moving to Windows Vista Ultimate
expedient and affordable. To use Windows Anytime Upgrade, a customer simply clicks
on the Windows Anytime Upgrade option in the Start menu, selects the desired
upgrade edition, purchases it online to secure a new digital key, and then
follows the on-screen instructions to complete the upgrade.
Within Windows Anytime Upgrade, customers will be able to
obtain detailed feature-by-feature information on the different Windows Vista
editions, so that they can make an informed decision on whether an upgrade is
right for them. The integrated desktop and e-commerce experience allows customers,
with one click, to go from the Windows desktop to an e-commerce shopping cart
containing the upgrade path they have selected.
The business model for Windows Anytime Upgrade is unique in
the industry in that selected original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and
retail partners will be able to offer Windows Anytime Upgrade as online
merchants, via a new e-commerce infrastructure developed by Microsoft. For the
first time, both retailers and OEMs can ensure that their customers have the
option to directly upgrade the version of Windows on their PC even after their
initial purchase.
The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices to upgrade to
more premium editions of Windows Vista are as follows: Home Basic to Home
Premium $79, Home Basic to Ultimate $199, Home Premium to Ultimate $159 and
Business to Ultimate $139. Windows Anytime Upgrade will coincide with the
general availability of Windows Vista in the United States, Canada, Europe and
Japan on Jan. 30, and after launch customers can find additional information at
http://www.windowsanytimeupgrade.com.
Windows Marketplace Adds Windows Vista to Its Virtual
Shelves
In another first, Microsoft will make Windows Vista and the
2007 Microsoft Office release available for direct download via
Windows Marketplace, the largest online destination for buying software that
runs on Windows. Starting Jan. 30 and working with retail partners, Windows
Marketplace will offer the following upgrade editions of Windows Vista and full
versions of the 2007 Microsoft Office release at suggested retail prices:
- Windows Vista Home Basic
- Windows Vista Home Premium
- Windows Vista Ultimate
- Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007
- Microsoft Office Professional 2007
- Microsoft Office Standard 2007
Windows Vista editions offered through Windows Marketplace
are available in English only, in either 32-bit or 64-bit versions. Windows
Marketplace visitors also can find a wide variety of Windows-compatible hardware
and software, including products carrying the Certified for Windows Vista logo,
which are tested to ensure superior reliability and quality when running on
Windows Vista.
Windows Marketplace makes it fast and easy to download large
programs such as Windows Vista through its digital locker technology. Digital
locker combines the immediacy of downloaded software with the security features
of owning physical media like a DVD — it uses innovative security technology to
store purchased software and license keys, efficiently resumes downloads if
they are interrupted, and manages the overall installation process. More
information can be found on Jan. 30 at http://www.windowsmarketplace.com.
Family Discount Rewards Multiple-PC Households
To make it easier for households with multiple PCs to make
the move to Windows Vista, Microsoft is launching a limited-time offer for
customers who buy retail copies of Windows Vista Ultimate. From Jan. 30 through
June 30, the Windows Vista Family Discount will allow North American customers
to license two additional copies of Windows Vista Home Premium for use on other
PCs in the home at the reduced price of $49.99 each. Before completing the
order online, customers will need to enter one valid full or upgrade Windows
Vista Ultimate key from their retail boxed product. After eligibility is
verified online, the customer can purchase licenses to install Windows Vista
Home Premium on one or two additional Windows-based computers. The Windows
Vista Family Discount is available only in the U.S. and Canada. More
information is available at http://www.windowsvista.com/FamilyOffer.