Microsoft To Offer Vista Upgrade Coupon
System builders praised Microsoft’s decision to offer an Express Upgrade coupon that gives buyers of Windows XP-based PCs a free or discounted upgrade to Windows Vista through March 15.
As part of the deal, designed to drive PC sales though the holiday season, Microsoft apparently plans to include coupons with new Windows XP SKUs that give buyers a free pass to the next-generation operating system when it ships in the first quarter of 2007, industry sources have stated. The Windows Vista Technology Upgrade Program runs from Oct. 26, 2006, through March 15, 2007. Distributors are expected to have the new Windows XP SKUs in house for system builders by Oct. 15.
Consumers may also get free coupons, but in some cases, they will have to pay fees to upgrade to more full-featured Vista Home Editions. Customers who buy retail systems running Windows XP Home Edition through the end of the year, for example, can upgrade to Vista Home Basic Edition for a flat US$49 fee and to the higher-end Vista Home Premium Edition for US$79.
According to a spokesman from Microsoft, when approached about the coupons:
“We are talking with all of our partners about plans for an offer. But those discussions are ongoing, and we have nothing more to share at this time“
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