Eligible Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users urged to upgrade to Windows 10 before free upgrade offer ends on July 29
Asia – July 25, 2016 – Microsoft today highlighted that almost half of qualified PCs across Asia are at risk of missing out on the free Windows 10 upgrade offer which will end July 29. According to web traffic analysis tool StatCounter, 48.5 percent of PCs in the region1 are still running on Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, both of which are eligible for the free Windows 10 upgrade offer.
The data from StatCounter also revealed that India has the highest percentage of qualified PCs at risk of missing out on the free upgrade, followed by Korea, Thailand, and the Philippines.
“Windows 10 is the fastest growing version of Windows in history, and more than 350 million active devices around the world today run on the most personal and productive version of Windows we’ve ever created,” said Guenter Weimar, General Manager, Windows and Surface, Microsoft Asia Pacific. “While many consumers in Asia are still on older versions of Windows, we strongly encourage eligible PC users to take advantage of the free upgrade to enjoy great new features on Windows 10 that will truly enhance their personal computing experience.”
Since launch, Windows 10 has seen the highest customer satisfaction rate among customers as compared to previous versions of Windows. In addition, there has been incredible customer engagement with more than 135 billion hours of use on Windows 10 since launch. From students to mobile professionals, Windows 10 has created new computing experiences that are more engaging, more natural and more productive.
In addition, the upcoming Windows 10 Anniversary Update will roll out globally on August 2, bringing six key breakthrough new features to all Windows 10 PCs, including:
- More security features for the most secure Windows: Security has never been more critical, with more than 250 million threats online in any given day. Windows 10 is the most secure version of Windows ever, and the Anniversary Update brings even more improvements to Windows Hello2 and Windows Defender, along with two major new security features for enterprise customers: Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection (WDATP) and Windows Information Protection.
- Windows Ink: Available for the first time in the Anniversary Update, Windows Ink is an all-new experience that puts the power of Windows in the tip of a digital pen, enables people to write on a device as they would on paper. Plus, integration with Office and other applications such as Microsoft Edge and Maps bring the power of inking everywhere for everyone.
- Improvements to Cortana3: The world’s most productive personal digital assistant gets even better with access above the lock screen, more ways to remember with the ability for Cortana to save and recall information, and synchronization across devices.
- Increased power efficiency, extensions and accessibility with Microsoft Edge: The Anniversary Update includes even more power-saving improvements in Microsoft Edge, using fewer CPU cycles, consuming less memory, and minimizing the impact of background activity and peripheral content like Flash advertisements.
- A better gaming experience: With Xbox Play Anywhere, gamers can buy a game once and play on a Windows 10 PC or Xbox One with shared progress, shared game saves and share achievements.
- Innovations for the modern classroom join great devices: Education customers can enjoy a range of new features in the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, including faster, simpler set up with all new tools to help educators get up and running quickly.
A deeper dive into these upcoming new features are available on the Microsoft News Center and on the Windows blog.
Mr Weimar added, “With Windows 10, our vision was to provide the best and most secure operating system that gets even better over time. The Anniversary Update is just the first step in our commitment to consistently add new features and innovations that people love to Windows 10. Customers who take advantage of the free upgrade today can do so with the full confidence that they will continue to reap the benefits Windows 10 will offer down the road.”
To enjoy these new features at no extra cost, Microsoft is encouraging all qualified PCs to upgrade to Windows 10 immediately, before the free upgrade offer ends on July 29, 2016. After July 29, users who missed the free upgrade offer will have to purchase a new Windows 10 product license4 to keep their devices up-to-speed with the Anniversary Update. More information can be found at https://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-10-upgrade.
To enjoy the full Windows 10 experience, customers may also upgrade by purchasing a new PC packed with modern hardware such as the latest processors, graphics, and Infrared (IR) cameras that support Windows Hello.
1 Data extracted from StatCounter Global Stats on July 7, 2016. Figures for Asia are calculated as an average of the figures of the following 14 markets: Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam. StatCounter is a third-party data provider and Microsoft’s usage of these figures is not intended to imply endorsement or responsibility for its accuracy.
2 Windows Hello requires specialized hardware, including fingerprint reader, illuminated IR sensor or other biometric sensors.
3 Cortana available in select global markets at launch; experience may vary by region and device.
4 Recommended retail pricing in local markets to be announced.
