Microsoft puts limitation on free Windows 7 upgrades

BEIJING, June 29 (Xinhuanet) -- Microsoft has limited the number of newly purchased PC machines that can be upgraded to Windows 7 for free to 25 by the new operating system's (OS) release date, media reports Monday.

Microsoft has limited the number of newly purchased PC machines that can be upgraded to Windows 7 for  free to 25 by the new operating system's (OS) release date, media reports Monday.

Windows 7, the next major OS release from Microsoft after Vista, will be officially available on Oct. 22. The first beta of the OS was released in February and a Release Candidate (RC) followed in May. The beta version will expire next week, while the RC will remain as a free download until Aug. 15.

Microsoft's newly posted FAQ on the Option Upgrade Program fails to mention it has a limit of 25 machines. Microsoft made an announcement in April on the 25-machine restriction on upgrades for Vista and XP users.

Gartner analyst Michael Silver said the limitation aims to boost sales of its Software Assurance licenses to businesses. Under Software Assurance, companies pay between 100 U.S. dollars and 150 dollars per PC for the right to unlimited upgrades at no additional cost for three years.

"Gartner believes that Microsoft designs these program limitations to persuade organizations to enter Enterprise Agreements, enroll licenses in Software Assurance or purchase upgrade rights to run Windows 7," Silver said.

Silver said companies that need to buy more than a couple of dozen PCs between now and Oct. 22 should press their PC manufacturer for the right to upgrade later at no additional cost. "Larger OEMS administer their own programs, have latitude to do this and have made exceptions for organizations in the past," he said.