Microsoft finally shed some light as to when the new Windows 10 will officially become available, and it's sooner than many expected.
Windows 10 is the company's last major version of its popular operating system (OS) and has already stirred lots of interest worldwide. The latest version of the OS will bring some big changes to the table, and will unify platforms by working as a universal OS suitable for various devices.
Microsoft has already unveiled various details of the new OS and demonstrated key Windows 10 capabilities, but one big question remained unanswered until now: when it will launch.
In a new company blog post late on Tuesday, March 17, Microsoft finally announced when it will release Windows 10. According to the announcement by Terry Myerson, executive vice president of Microsoft's operating systems group, Windows 10 will officially become available to consumers "this summer."
The last major version of the OS will be available in 190 countries and in 111 languages, the announcement further adds. Microsoft had already said a while back that Windows 10 would come as a free upgrade to Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users, provided they download the new OS version within the first year of its availability.
As previously mentioned, Windows 10 also aims to unify the company's platforms, which means that it will be available for mobile devices as well. The upgrade will be available for free for phones running Windows Phone 8.1, as well as devices running Microsoft's Xbox One.
So far, Windows 10 was expected to start rolling out to consumers in the fall, judging by Microsoft's previous release schedules. Nevertheless, the new OS version will arrive sooner than expected, as Microsoft promised to deliver it this summer.
At the same time, a summer release will also allow the company to take full advantage of the back-to-school shopping season, a lucrative period for computer sales.
Windows 10 will bring notable improvements over the previous iteration, as well as a number of neat new features that should enhance the whole experience. Some of the exciting new features Windows 10 has to bring to the table include a desktop version of Cortana, the company's digital assistant and answer to Apple's Siri and Google Now, and a new browser called Spartan.
