14 DAY TRIAL // Windows 8, the next-generation operating system from Microsoft, is officially set to arrive on shelves in late October, and will benefit from wide availability all around the world.
Today, Microsoft’s Windows Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Financial Officer Tami Reller confirmed that at the annual Worldwide Partner Conference in Toronto, Canada.
She announced that Microsoft is on track to make Windows 8 generally available in late October, and that the platform will be released in 109 languages across 231 markets worldwide.
The availability of the next-generation OS in October means that Windows 8 and Windows RT PCs will be put on shelves during that month.
Windows 8 will be available for acquisition as a full retail product, but users will also be able to grab it as OEM flavor pre-installed on new computers, or as an upgrade option for existing platforms.
Last week, Microsoft announced that owners of Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 computers will be able to upgrade to the upcoming Windows 8 Pro flavor for only $40 for a limited period of time following the general availability of the platform.
To be more precise, the promotion will be available for all upgraders until the end of January next year, and will include the purchase of a Windows 8 Pro upgrade through Windows.com.
Additionally, Microsoft unveiled that upgraders would be able to grab the platform on a DVD, but that it will cost them $70.
The upgrades will be available for all qualifying users in 131 markets around the world, and not for people in all 231 countries where the new platform will be put up for sale.
At the moment, Windows 8 is available for free as a pre-release flavor, and has been so since September last year.
Those who already have it installed on their computers will be able to upgrade to Windows 8 Pro when it lands on shelves, provided that they have a prior valid Windows license.