Microsoft starts global Windows 10 rollout: Free download upgrades kick off

Microsoft starts rolling its new operating system Windows 10 to users around the world today. Windows Insiders participants will be the first to receive the free upgrade. Prior to the launch. Microsoft has already started pushing Windows 10 out to PCs in preparation of its launch. Many users in the United States and elsewhere in the world started receiving the pre-download.

According to The Telegraph , Windows 10 will not have a separate operating system for the phones as it can be used across all Microsoft devices including PCs, tablets and smartphones. It is also designed to run game consoles like Xbox and even HoloLens, Microsoft’s Holographic headset. Microsoft has also replaced Windows Media Center with modified versions of Xbox Music and Xbox Video, which have been renamed as ‘Groove’ and ‘Movies & TV’ respectively.

The company aims to revive its diminishing phone business and declining PC sales with Windows 10. The free upgrade of the new OS is a calculated move towards it rescue operation, Recode said in a report.

The launch of the new OS is critical for the future of the company and will be accompanied by a global marketing campaign. The recently released advertisements featuring toddlers highlighted few of the new features of Windows 10. This indicates that the company is hoping to capture the market with its streamlined Web browser Edge and desktop version of digital assistant Cortana, Microsoft's answer to Google Now and Apple’s Siri. The Edge browser allows users to annotate web pages, save it to read later or select a ‘read mode’ to get rid of advertisements and sidebars. Windows 10 is coming to PCs and tablets first.

The upgrade will be rolled out gradually to compatible systems. Microsoft is creating a queue to distribute the update in sequence. For Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users, Windows 10 is available as a free upgrade. Anyone who is still on Windows 8 will have to upgrade first to Windows 8.1 to qualify. Others will have to pay $119 ($AUD 162) for Windows 10 Home and $199 ($AUD272) for Windows 10 Pro.

Contact the writer at feedback@ibtimes.com.au or let us know what you think below.