Microsoft Windows 10: Summer Release, Free China Upgrades, New Xiaomi Deal, IoT Version

Microsoft (MSFT) will provide free upgrades to its impending Windows 10 operating system in China even to users running unauthorized copies of versions of its Windows 7 or Windows 8 operating systems, according to Terry Myerson, Microsoft Operating Systems Group boss.

Speaking at the Windows Hardware Engineering Community (WinHEC) technology conference in Shenzhen, China, Myerson said the vendor wants to “re-engage” with the hundreds of millions of Windows users in China.

In a statement, Myerson said “China is a global epicenter for innovation and the home of hundreds of millions of Windows PCs today. The Chinese technical community and Chinese customers are vitally important to the future of Windows 10,” he said.

“Via our partnerships, we will make it easy—and free—for hundreds of millions of customers in China to upgrade to Windows 10,” he said. In qualifying the vendor’s plans, Myerson told Reuters, “We are upgrading all qualified PCs, genuine and non-genuine, to Windows 10.”

The decision to offer free Windows 10 upgrades in China is Microsoft’s strongest statement to date to combat software piracy of its products and to generate better relationships with authorities.

Microsoft is among a handful of heavyweight U.S. tech firms that gained increased attention and pressure from Chinese regulators who have questioned their compliance with China’s business policies. In November, China hit Microsoft with a $140 bill for back taxes, in what has been called the country’s first major episode of cross-border tax evasion.

Earlier this year, Microsoft said it will offer Windows 10 as a free upgrade for existing Windows 8.1, Windows Phone 8.1 and Windows 7 users for a year. In addition, once a Windows 7, 8.1 or Phone device is upgraded to Windows 10, the vendor pledged to support it for the device’s lifetime free of charge.

By some estimates, the free Windows 10 upgrades to users and businesses could cost Microsoft as much as $500 million initially but there’s no doubting it will go a long way to convincing users to buy more of the vendor’s mobile apps and services.

Windows 10 schedule, Xiaomi deal, IoT version

Myerson also said Microsoft will release Windows 10 “this summer,” in the company’s first statement narrowing down the time frame for availability of the new operating system.

Lenovo, an early OEM cheerleader for Windows 10, will help the vendor roll out the OS platform in China to current Windows users through its 2,500 service centers and retail outlets in China. Lenovo also said it will offer smartphones running Windows 10 through carrier China Mobile later this year.

The vendor also said that Tencent, a Chinese social network and gaming services provider, will offer Windows 10 as a free upgrade to its customers running Windows 7 and Windows 8.1. Tencent said it will build a Windows 10 app for its QQ gaming and messaging service that commands some 800 million users. And, Qihu 360, a Chinese security company in China, also will deliver a Windows 10 upgrade to some 500 million customers.

In a move certain to raise Google’s (GOOG) eyebrows, Microsoft signaled it may use Windows 10 to make a stronger move to capture smartphone market share from Android with a new deal to test the platform. Select Xiaomi Mi 4 power users will be allowed to download and install a Windows 10 Technical Preview to their handsets in exchange for providing feedback to Microsoft.

And, finally, Microsoft said it will provide a special Windows 10 version available at launch geared to small-footprint IoT devices. The Windows 10 IoT release will be targeted at device-makers, businesses and consumers, Microsoft said.

March 20 update: Microsoft issued a statement to clarify that it is not offering amnesty to software pirates with Windows 10 upgrades. The vendor said it will continue to treat stolen versions of Windows as just that. While users of non-genuine Windows versions will be able to upgrade to Windows 10, it does not change the PC’s software license to genuine.

Here’s Microsoft’s full statement, via Thurrott.com: “We have always been committed to ensuring that customers have the best Windows experience possible. With Windows 10, although non-Genuine PCs may be able to upgrade to Windows 10, the upgrade will not change the genuine state of the license. Non-Genuine Windows is not published by Microsoft. It is not properly licensed, or supported by Microsoft or a trusted partner. If a device was considered non-genuine or mis-licensed prior to the upgrade, that device will continue to be considered non-genuine or mis-licensed after the upgrade.”