Manufacturer" (or RTM) build to OEM partners the
first week of August, and the operating itself will
officially launch to the public by the end of October.
Windows Chief Marketing Officer and Chief
Financial Officer Tami Reller made these
announcements at Microsoft's annual Worldwide
Developer Conference in Toronto on Monday.
The news comes as no surprise, as Microsoft had
previously stated it would make Windows 8
available in time for the holidays and many
speculated that this meant an October release. But
this is the first official release date the company
has given since announcing Windows 8.
Once Windows RTM launches in August, Microsoft
will turn on the commerce platform for apps in the
Windows Store, allowing developers to make
money off of their apps. (Currently, all apps are free
in Windows 8 Release Preview.) Come October,
users will be able to upgrade to Windows 8, as well
as purchase new Windows 8 and Windows RT PCs,
notebooks and tablets.
Reller also announced that more than 630 million
licenses of Windows 7 have been sold. Microsoft is
hedging its future on Windows 8, so it wants to
convince its current users to make the switch. The
company is pricing its Windows 8 upgrade
accordingly, making it as cheap and easy as
possible for current users to upgrade — a digital
download will cost only $40, while a boxed DVD
version will go for $70.
The move from a desktop-focused OS to the Metro
UI is a huge bet and shift for the company. And
with Windows RT and the Surface tablet, the
company is making its first forays into the tablet
market to compete with the iPad. For more on what
it's like to actually use Windows 8, read our hands-
on with the Windows 8 Release Preview.
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN
It's a good one. Way to go Microsoft
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