14 DAY TRIAL // Toshiba and Microsoft have joined forces for a brand new campaign that’s supposed to help small- and medium-sized businesses to move from Windows XP to the newly-launched Windows 8.1.
Toshiba says that as part of the new effort, participating companies will be provided with discounts, promotions, and assistance on the migration process in order to “stay productive, anytime, anywhere while ensuring security, compliance and manageability.”
“Ahead of the end of support for Windows XP, we are working together with Microsoft to ensure IT decision makers of SMBs are aware of the April deadline and the need for migration,” Matt McDowell, marketing director, Lifestyle Products & Services Group, Toshiba Europe, said.
“With IDC estimating that running Windows XP is five times more expensive than having Windows 7, there’s a strong financial argument for businesses to take into consideration as well. Our campaign, ‘Get Modern with Toshiba’, will make sure our channel partners can offer customers competitive and reliable products and services, combined with Toshiba’s experience.”
As part of the newly-launched campaign, those who want to purchase a Toshiba laptop will be allowed to choose from Portégé Z30, Tecra Z40 and Tecra Z50 at special prices, while a Trade-in scheme would make their devices even cheaper by around $120 (€90).
At this point, nearly 29 percent of the desktop computers worldwide are still running Windows XP, which is a bit worrying for Microsoft given the fact that support will end in just two months.
“The likelihood is that if a business is still using Windows XP, then the hardware it is running it on is old with limited functionality,” McDowell added. “This provides Toshiba’s partners with an opportunity to target the SMB market with hardware upgrades and the latest Toshiba models, as well as educate them about the benefits of migration.”