Multiple announcements today

Nick White — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 04:30:00 GMT

Good news arrives today on several Windows Vista-related fronts, my friends ... read on.

Windows Anytime Upgrade

Today we're announcing further detail on how Windows Anytime Upgrade works. Come 30 January, Windows Anytime Upgrade will allow customers to purchase and download a digital key to upgrade to a more feature-rich edition of Windows Vista. The user will then complete the upgrade process by inserting the Windows Vista DVD that came with their PC or with their retail purchase of Windows Vista. The program will be available in the US, Canada, Europe and Japan.

Manufacturer's suggested retail prices (MSRP) to upgrade from a more basic version of Windows Vista are:

Home Basic --> Home Premium: $79
Home Basic --> Ultimate: $199
Home Premium --> Ultimate: $159
Business --> Ultimate: $139

We've designed Windows Anytime Upgrade as a measure of convenience for our customers and hope it proves to be a way for you to more easily advance to a more fully-featured edition of Windows Vista.

Windows Family Discount

Also, today we're announcing news that makes it easier and more economical for those of you with multiple systems at home -- like many of you who read this blog -- to upgrade to Windows Vista. If you have need for fewer than 5 licenses for home use, you can upgrade all of your home systems by taking advantage of the Windows Vista Family Discount. (Volume licensing is the way to go if you have need for more than 5 licenses.) This program will also begin at our retail availability launch on 30 January.

The Windows Vista Family Discount was in part inspired by feedback from tech enthusiasts like you who told us that previously it was less than convenient to upgrade every node on their home networks.

We heard you loud and clear in planning the Windows Vista Family Discount. Here's how it works:

Buy a retail copy of Windows Vista Ultimate (full or upgrade version)
Between 30 January – 30 June, order up to two copies of Windows Vista Home Premium online
Pay only $49.99 for each copy of Windows Vista Home Premium
Valid in North America (US and Canada)
On 30 January, go here for details; we've also a special site for our French-speaking customers.

Windows Marketplace Electronic Software Distribution

And finally, also as of the 30th, you will be able to visit Windows Marketplace to electronically buy Windows Vista and the 2007 Microsoft Office release via direct download. Windows Marketplace uses a technology called digital locker, which securely stores both the software itself and its related license keys. Digital locker also has intelligence to know when a download has been interrupted so that it can resume automatically once the connection is reinstated. On 30 January, go here to find the ESD editions of Windows Vista & Office 2007.

Windows Vista Team Blog : Windows Marketplace

Multiple announcements today