Experience the Top 8 apps, with now only 10 days left to upgrade at the special, low-cost introductory price.
Hong Kong – January 22, 2013 – Eighty-eight days since the global launch of Windows 8, businesses and consumers in Hong Kong are embracing the operating system’s unique promise of “no-compromise computing”. Adoption continues to build steadily across Asia-Pacific, with the region now one of the fastest-growing markets in the world for Windows 8. This enthusiasm is expected to continue as the territory prepares to slither into the Year of the Snake for Chinese New Year, another key sales period.
Joelle Woo, director of Marketing and Operations, Microsoft Hong Kong said, “Traditionally, our Hong Kong customers are amongst the earliest adopters of new technologies. They are especially interested in the latest computing devices such as ultrabooks, tablet PCs and hybrids, as well as exploring new and exciting experiences like touch-based computing. I am pleased to say that the same is true for Windows 8, we are delighted with the uptake in the region so far”.
Part of the enthusiasm around the new operating system has been the strong growth in developers building for the new platform. Since the opening of the Windows Store the number of apps has quadrupled and globally Microsoft recently passed the 100 million app download mark – just two months after general availability.
Woo continued, “Our partners and our grass-roots developer community have responded very positively to Windows 8 as a platform with incredible scope and appeal to the existing audience of 1.3 billion users. This is driving the rapid growth of the ecosystem, which is both easy to develop for and highly customizable to different audiences”.
Today in Hong Kong the Top Eight Windows 8 apps are:
- TVB News – The app provides detailed local, financial and international news coverage, as well as round-the-clock news updates. It also provides review of various news feature shows, such as News Magazine, Behind the Headlines and On The Record.
- Uwants – Uwants is Hong Kong’s well-known online forum, Discuss current affairs, animation cartoons, food, sports, beauty, mobile phones, movies, entertainment, travel and other hot topics – all readily accessible on Uwants!
- Centaline – View the latest property news on dynamic Live Tiles for free, enables you to list out your favorite property.
- Towngas – The app provides a wealth of free recipes aimed at making cooking easier than ever before. It also allows users to check their gas meters and look up the locations of Towngas’s customer service centers.
- Skype – Featuring multiple functions, including voice/video/conference calls.
- Weibo – A popular social network app. The clean interface on Windows 8 is very user-friendly, i.e. you can easily comment and see other’s Weibo.
- Wikipedia – The most famous online encyclopedia which supports Search Charm that makes info search ever easier and faster.
- Angry Bird Star Wars – The latest Angry Bird App with many levels available.
On Windows 8’s future prospects, Woo said, “Not only did we have strong sales over the Christmas season, but we remain optimistic for Windows 8 in the lead-up to Chinese New Year as customers spend end-of-year bonuses and ready themselves for the commercial year ahead.”
“Hong Kong customers are voting with their feet, buying brand-new devices from our retail and channel partners, but existing customers are also downloading Windows 8 upgrades in unprecedented numbers. Many of them are taking advantage of our once-only offer to upgrade from XP, Vista and Windows 7 to Windows 8 at a significant discount which ends on the 31st January 2013.”
Globally, the numbers also show strong momentum for Windows 8 which passed 60 million licenses sold, as announced on January 8. In addition to this, the number of Windows 8 certified systems available since the end of October, has grown to a staggering 1,700 including some of the latest devices release this month at the 2013 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.
Woo concluded, “The number eight is lucky in Chinese culture, and it appears that at this point in time, our customers in Hong Kong are feeling Windows 8 will indeed bring them prosperity in the year ahead! I encourage those who would like to upgrade at a substantial discount to review our upgrade offers and I wish all our customers a healthy, wealthy and happy Year of the Snake in 2013.”
Windows 8 Offers
Through the end of January, 2013, consumers currently running PCs with Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7, will be able to download and upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for an estimated retail price of HK$319. In the same period, consumers who purchase eligible Windows 7 PCs between June 2, 2012, and January 31, 2013 can download Windows 8 Pro for an estimated retail price of HK$119 with the Windows Upgrade Offer, available at www.windowsupgradeoffer.com.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
