14 DAY TRIAL // Windows 10 is the hottest topic for Microsoft enthusiasts across the world these days, and while the company isn't yet ready to disclose more details about its pricing, information on how much another Windows version actually costs for OEMs has reached the web.
Back in 2014, Microsoft officially announced at the BUILD developer conference that it was making Windows 8.1 free for OEMs building tablets with screens smaller than nine inches, obviously in an attempt to bring more devices running its modern operating system to the market.
Now information posted on the Microsoft OEM Partner Center page reveals that Windows 8.1 with Bing, a version that requires OEMs to set Bing as the default search engine and MSN as the home page of the browser (both can be changed by users), isn't entirely free, but in fact available with a discount that makes it cost zero dollars for devices with displays below 9 inches.
$10 discount for Windows 8.1 with Bing
Basically, Windows 8.1 with Bing is available for a $10 fee for Intel-based tablets, but thanks to what Microsoft calls a “configuration discount” of $10, the operating system becomes available free of charge for all devices equipped with a display smaller than 9 inches.
On the other hand, tablets that have a screen of 10.1 inches or even bigger cost $25, but again thanks to the $10 configuration discount, each copy costs only $15 for OEMs.
In addition to Windows 8.1 with Bing, Microsoft is also offering OEMs another SKU of the operating system that's called Windows 8.1 with Bing and Office 365 Personal for Tablets, which costs $25 and comes with a one-year subscription of Office 365 Personal.
Similar strategy for Windows 10
Even though no pricing details are available about Windows 10 right now, Microsoft is expected to adopt a similar strategy that would allow the company to offer the new OS free of charge for a number of devices with smaller screens.
Information on this approach is unlikely to be disclosed at the January 21 event that takes place at the Redmond headquarters and which would bring us new details about Windows 10 and the consumer features implemented in this new operating system.