Microsoft says Windows is no longer a piece of software but a service that can provide users with improvements faster

Jan 22, 2015 10:37 GMT  ·  By

Windows 10 indeed marks a completely new beginning for Microsoft, given the amount of changes that are part of this release, but in addition to an improved UI and a plethora of new features, there's one thing that transforms the way the company and its customers get to work on their devices.

Windows is no longer just a piece of software that needs to be deployed on a computer but a service that can be easily updated and improved when new features are available.

Microsoft confirmed during the event on Wednesday that its key product evolved to “Windows as a Service,” and Terry Myerson explained that this change was going to have a positive impact on the way using the operating system is improved on people's devices.

Starting with Windows 10, Microsoft's operating system might not get any new major releases but only updates that are shipped to computers as soon as they're ready. This means that you won't have to wait several months or maybe years to get your hands on a new Windows version because the company now plans to make all the new features available to you as soon as they are ready.

“With Windows 10, the experience will evolve and get even better over time. We’ll deliver new features when they’re ready, not waiting for the next major release. We think of Windows as a Service – in fact, one could reasonably think of Windows in the next couple of years as one of the largest Internet services on the planet,” Myerson said.

Keep Windows Update always enabled

Microsoft says that everyone should keep Windows Update always enabled because this is going to be the main way to receive new features and improvements when they are released.

Myerson pointed out that Windows Update is no longer just a channel for security patches but the main service that brings improvements on your device, be it a tablet, smartphone, or PC.

“With Windows 10, a best practice we recommend for many enterprise devices is to connect to Windows Update and be kept up-to-date with the latest security and productivity improvements as soon as they are available,” he said.

Windows 10 would be available free of charge for all computers running Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, Microsoft said, but only for the first year after launch. After that, everyone will have to pay a fee that's yet to be revealed.