Windows Vista Anytime Upgrade and Family Discount Offered

Microsoft introduced Windows Anytime Upgrade, Windows Vista Family Discount and Windows Marketplace, the three new methods for customers looking to buy, upgrade or license multiple copies of Windows Vista operating system.

Windows Anytime Upgrade allows customers to upgrade their existing edition of Windows Vista to a higher-grade edition by way of an online transaction. 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 suggested retail prices to upgrade to more premium editions of Windows Vista are as follows: Home Basic to Home Premium $79, Home Basic to Ultimate $199, Home Premium to Ultimate $159 and Business to Ultimate $139. Windows Anytime Upgrade will coincide with the general availability of Windows Vista in the United States, Canada, Europe and Japan on Jan. 30, and after launch customers can find additional information at http://www.windowsanytimeupgrade.com/.

To make it easier for households with multiple PCs to make the move to Windows Vista, Microsoft is 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 North American customers to license two additional copies of Windows Vista Home Premium for use on other PCs in the home at the reduced price of $49.99 each. After eligibility is verified online, the customer can purchase licenses to install Windows Vista Home Premium on one or two additional Windows-based computers. The Windows Vista Family Discount is available only in the U.S. and Canada. More information is available at http://www.windowsvista.com/FamilyOffer.

Windows Vista editions which will be offered through Windows Marketplace, the online store for buying software that runs on Windows, will be available in English only, in either 32-bit or 64-bit versions, starting on January the 30th.

Windows Marketplace uses digital locker technology, which enables secure storing of purchased software and license keys, efficiently resumes downloads if they are interrupted, and manages the overall installation process. More information can be found on Jan. 30 at http://www.windowsmarketplace.com/ .