Microsoft's latest Windows 10 operating system is set to start rolling out to consumers this summer, and it will come in several editions.
The new OS is set to hit roughly 190 countries in 111 languages later this year, and Microsoft will be offering a number of editions Windows 10 in order to suit various needs and preferences.
In a new company blog post on Wednesday, May 13, Microsoft announced that Windows 10 editions will include Windows 10 Home, Mobile, Pro, Enterprise, Mobile Enterprise, and Education.
"We designed Windows 10 to deliver a more personal computing experience across a range of devices. An experience optimized for each device type, but familiar to all. Windows 10 will power an incredibly broad range of devices - everything from PCs, tablets, phones, Xbox One, Microsoft HoloLens and Surface Hub. It will also power the world around us, core to devices making up the Internet of Things, everything from elevators to ATMs to heart rate monitors to wearables. No matter which Windows 10 device our customers use, the experience will feel comfortable, and there will be a single, universal Windows Store where they can find, try and buy Universal Windows apps," Microsoft explains.
"As in the past, we will offer different Windows editions that are tailored for various device families and uses. These different editions address specific needs of our various customers, from consumers to small businesses to the largest enterprises."
Windows 10 Home Edition, as the name itself suggests, is the consumer version of the software, which will likely hit most desktop PCs, laptops, and hybrid devices. This edition will support the much-touted Cortana, the Windows Edge browser, as well as Windows Hello login through face recognition, iris or fingerprint scanners for Windows apps such as Photos, Maps, Mail, Music, Video, and Calendar.
Windows 10 Pro Edition caters to business users, offering all of the features found in the Home Edition, as well as additional ones such as device management, extra security features, or cloud solutions. Medium and large organizations, meanwhile, will be able to opt for the Windows 10 Enterprise Edition, which brings a slew of options for OS deployment and device and app management in addition to all of the features of the Pro Edition.
As many already know, Microsoft will also be bringing its latest OS to smartphones and tablets, and this version of the software will come as Windows 10 Mobile or Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise. Mobile phone and tablet users, as well as owners of other touch-centric devices, will be able to enjoy Windows 10 Mobile with support for Universal apps, complete with an Office version optimized for touch. Continuum for phones will also allow users to turn their smartphone into a PC by connecting it to a large display, a keyboard, and a mouse.
Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise, meanwhile, is the mobile version of the Windows 10 Enterprise Edition, as the name suggests. This software will offer the latest security features and innovation for mobile devices, aiming to make Windows phones suitable for business environments.
At the same time, Microsoft will offer versions of Windows 10 Enterprise and Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise for industry devices such as ATMs, retail point-of-sale (POS) systems, handheld terminals and industrial robotics, and Windows 10 IoT Core for devices such as gateways.
Windows 10 Education, meanwhile, builds upon Windows 10 Enterprise, but is designed with schools in mind, aiming to cater to staff, administrators, students, and teachers alike.
"This edition will be available through academic Volume Licensing, and there will be paths for schools and students using Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro devices to upgrade to Windows 10 Education," Microsoft further explains.
Lastly, Windows 10 Home, Mobile, and Pro Editions will be available as free upgrades in the first year for existing users of genuine Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows Phone 8.1.
