Microsoft Canada detailed two new methods for Canadians looking to buy, upgrade or license multiple copies of Windows Vista, the new operating system that will be available worldwide on Jan. 30. Windows Anytime Upgrade and Windows Vista Family Discount will provide Canadians with more flexibility in obtaining the new operating system and will ensure they have the edition of Windows Vista that matches their needs.
Windows Anytime Upgrade is a new option that enables Canadians to upgrade their existing edition of Windows Vista to a higher-grade edition by way of an online transaction.
For example, if a Windows Vista Home Premium or Windows Vista Business user wants increased capabilities – perhaps to join a home PCs to secure domains at the office, or to experience the multimedia capabilities of Windows Vista on a work laptop – Windows Anytime Upgrade makes the process of moving to Windows Vista Ultimate expedient and affordable. To use Windows Anytime Upgrade, a customer simply clicks on the Windows Anytime Upgrade option in the Start menu, selects the desired upgrade edition, purchases it online to secure a new digital key, and then follows the on-screen instructions to complete the upgrade.
The business model for Windows Anytime Upgrade uses selected original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and retail partners to offer Windows Anytime Upgrade as online merchants, via a new e-commerce infrastructure developed by Microsoft. For the first time, both retailers and OEMs can ensure that their customers have the option to directly upgrade the version of Windows on their PC even after their initial purchase.
The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices to upgrade to more premium editions of Windows Vista are as follows: Home Basic to Home Premium $99, Home Basic to Ultimate $249, Home Premium to Ultimate $199 and Business to Ultimate $179.
Microsoft is also launching a limited-time offer for customers who buy retail copies of Windows Vista Ultimate. From Jan. 30 through June 30, the Windows Vista Family Discount will allow Canadian customers to license two additional copies of Windows Vista Home Premium for use on other PCs in the home at the reduced price of $59.99 each.