14 DAY TRIAL // Windows Vista Enterprise went live to corporate customers worldwide via the Microsoft software Assurance channel and volume licensing in November 2006. Subsequently, in January 2007, Microsoft also released Windows Vista Home Basic, Home Premium, Business and Ultimate to the general consumers. But concomitantly with the introduction of Vista, Microsoft found it necessary to provide users with a streamlined upgrade model between the various editions of the operating system. In this context, the Windows Anytime Upgrade combined the resources bundled into the default Vista installation media with an online service designed to enable users to migrate from a basic edition of the platform to a more feature rich variant.
"The initial version of Windows Anytime Upgrade was available at consumer launch in North America and EMEA on January 30th in the form of a card with a product key. Since then, we've redesigned the SKU to also offer a pack with a DVD and a product key inside. The English version of this pack was made available in the North America, EMEA and APAC markets in May, with localized SKUs made available in June. In the US market, the Windows Anytime Upgrade Pack is available as a service upgrade at retailers and can be purchased on Amazon or at Circuit City and Best Buy. In EMEA and APAC customers can purchase the pack through several different software distributors and retailers," a Microsoft representative stated to Long Zheng.
By integrating all the Windows Vista editions of a single DVD, Microsoft has also added the Windows Anytime Upgrade option. Basically, every Vista installation media permits the users to upgrade their copy of the operating system to an alternative version with the exception of the Ultimate edition. In this regard, users are able to move from Home Basic to Home Premium or to Ultimate, while the Home Premium and Business editions can only upgrade to the high end variant of Vista. This was insufficient for customers, as Microsoft found, and led to the release of the Windows Anytime Upgrade Packs.
"Upgrade Packs are available through direct retail in response to requests from our retail partners. Direct retail offers customers the choice of another way to acquire WAU, coexisting with the online WAU model. When customers purchase the upgrade at windowsanytimeupgrade.com, they receive a digital certificate download and product key. With the upgrade pack, customers insert the DVD, enter the product key and proceed with the upgrade. The bits are also available on a WAU DVD that they can purchase at the same time," The Microsoft representative added.