Windows 10 Launched in India as a Free Upgrade

Microsoft Corp. announced that Windows 10 will become available as a free upgradeor with new PCs and tablets. Windows 10 includes innovations such as Cortana2, an Xbox app and Microsoft Edge for a familiar, yet more personal and productive experience. The most secure Windows ever, Windows 10 is delivered as a service and kept automatically up-to-date with innovations and security updates.

Windows 10 offers one experience that will become available on the broadest range of devices, including PCs, tablets, phones, Raspberry Pi, Xbox One, HoloLens and more — with more than 2,000 devices or configurations already in testing. The new Windows Store and Windows Software Development Kit also become available from today, opening the door to new and innovative app experiences on Windows 10.

People around the world will celebrate the launch of Windows 10 on 29th July 2015 at fan celebrations in 13 countries including India and via Upgrade Your World, a new yearlong initiative to celebrate people and organizations making a difference around the world. Microsoft encourages people to share how they plan to #UpgradeYourWorld and to vote for a global non-profit to receive a cash donation by simply tagging their social handle using #UpgradeYourWorld and #vote on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. More information on Upgrade Your World can be found at http://www.windows.com/upgradeyourworld.

Bhaskar Pramanik, Chairman, Microsoft India said, “Windows 10 is the best Windows ever. Today, Windows 10 will be available across 190 countries as a free upgrade or with new PCs and tablets. It is more personal and more productive. It’s safer and more secure. And it’s familiar and always up to date. In India, more than 1500 retail stores across the country will help consumers move up to Windows 10. I am excited that many Indian and multinational partners are ready to offer a variety of Windows 10 devices.”

Windows 10 is fast and familiar - with the return of the Start menu and Live Tiles for instant, streaming updates of what matters most. Windows 10 is the most secure Windows Microsoft has ever released, with enhancements to Windows Defender and SmartScreen to help safeguard against viruses, malware and phishing, and innovations such as Windows Hello, which offers a fast, secured, password-free way to log in.3 Keeping up-to-date is also simple, as free updates will help people stay current with the latest features and security updates for the lifetime of the device.

Windows 10 is more personal and productive, with voice, pen and gesture inputs for natural interaction with PCs. It’s designed to work with Office and Skype and allows you to switch between apps and stay organized with Snap and Task View. Windows 10 offers many innovative experiences and devices, including the following:

• Cortana, the personal digital assistant, makes it easy to find the right information at the right time.

• New Microsoft Edge browser lets people quickly browse, read, and mark up and share the Web.

• The integrated Xbox app delivers the Xbox experience to Windows 10, bringing together friends, games and accomplishments across Xbox One and Windows 10 devices.

• Continuum optimizes apps and experiences beautifully across touch and desktop modes.

• Built-in apps including Photos; Maps; Microsoft’s new music app, Groove; and Movies & TV offer entertainment and productivity options. With OneDrive, files can be easily shared and kept up-to-date across all devices.

• A Microsoft Phone Companion app enables iPhones, Android or Windows phones to work seamlessly with Windows 10 devices.

• The all new Office Mobile apps for Windows 10 tablets are available today in the Windows Store4. Built for work on-the-go, the Word, Excel and PowerPoint apps offer a consistent, touch-first experience for small tablets. And for all your digital note taking needs, the full featured OneNote app comes pre-installed with Windows 10. The upcoming release of the Office desktop apps (Office 2016) will offer our richest feature set for professional content creation. Designed for the precision of a keyboard and mouse, these apps will be optimized for large screen PCs, laptops, and 2-in-1 devices like the Surface Pro.

Vineet Durani, Director – Windows Business Group, Microsoft India said, “We are entering a new era of Windows. For the first time, we built Windows 10 alongside our customers - the feedback of more than 5 million Windows Insiders helped shape Windows 10. The response from Insiders in India has been overwhelming as well and we are excited to be bringing Windows 10 to India. And what better way to introduce it than by celebrating the Insiders and fans who played such an instrumental role in making this happen.”

Upgrading to Windows 10 is easy for customers running a genuine Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 PC or tablet. Starting today, people who reserved their upgrade to Windows 10 will be notified in waves when their upgrade is ready to be installed. For business customers, Windows 10 is available to start deploying within their work environments, and starting Aug. 1, organizations that have volume licensing can upgrade to Windows 10 Enterprise and Windows 10 Education.

Retail partners are ready to help people upgrade to Windows 10, with our largest tech bench program ever, including more than 100,000 trained retailers and tens of thousands of stores around the world. Free upgrade programs will be available from 29th July 2015, with Windows 10 software becoming broadly available in retail stores between mid-August and September around the world. Devices running Windows 10 will be available in some retail stores around the world between mid-August and September with many, many more devices to become available in the weeks and months ahead.

In India, more than 1500 retail stores across the country have been equipped with dedicated personnel and Internet connectivity to help consumers upgrade to Windows 10. This includes Microsoft Priority Reseller stores; leading organized retail chains including Reliance Digital and Vijay Sales in addition to Croma, as well breadth stores. We have also set up a toll-free helpline (180011110) for assistance for existing users who choose to upgrade on their own.

Additional information on upgrading, new and compatible devices, and apps for Windows can be found at http://www.windows.com. More information on Upgrade Your World can be found at http://www.windows.com/upgradeyourworld.