Windows 7 does really fly – in family packs as well!
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Microsoft has announced that the Windows 7 Family Pack, a limited-time offer that allows you to upgrade three PCs to Windows 7 Home Premium, will also be available in select European countries. The company has chosen eight countries: the UK (£149.99), Ireland (£149.99), Germany (€149.99), France (€149.99), Switzerland (€149.99), Austria (€149.99), the Netherlands (€149.99), and Sweden (€149.99). The Windows 7 Family Pack will be available on October 22, 2009, the general availability date of Windows 7, until supplies last.
The pack was announced in Europe after it was announced in North America because Microsoft was not sure it could offer an upgrade version of Windows 7 at launch. In July 2009, Redmond offered to adopt the European Union’s browser ballot screen in order to address competition concerns regarding Windows and Internet Explorer. As a result, a week later Microsoft confirmed that it was killing off the Windows 7 E version before it ever saw the light of day.
European countries will have the same version of Windows 7 as the rest of the world: Windows 7 retail boxes will be available in both full and upgrade versions via preorder through Microsoft online stores and retail partners starting on September 1, 2009 (general availability is still set for October 22, 2009). Also, as we found out earlier this month, customers who have already preordered Windows 7 E in the EU (even at the upgrade version price), or will do so before September 1, will receive a full version of Windows 7.
The Windows 7 Family Pack was first revealed last month when an extra clause was noticed in the Microsoft Software License Terms for the Home Premium edition of a leaked Windows 7 build, and not in other editions like Professional and Ultimate. Three weeks later, Microsoft confirmed the existence of the three-computer Family Pack but refused to disclose when the pack would become available or how much it would go for. Before the month was over though, Redmond announced that the bundle would cost $149.99 in the US and $199.99 in Canada.
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Les Armitage said:
Microsoft NOW says it’s “highly unlikely” that British buyers will be offered the Windows 7 Family Pack before 2010.
The Family Pack allows users to install Windows 7 on up to three PCs. In the US, Microsoft will be offering the Windows 7 Home Premium Family Pack for $149 (£89).
However, because the Family Pack is an upgrade option, Microsoft won’t be offering the pack in this country at launch. Microsoft isn’t offering upgrades in Europe until at least next year, because of its ongoing problems with removing the web browser at the behest of the EU.
“Microsoft is today announcing that a Windows 7 Family Pack… will be available for customers in select markets, including the US and Canada, but not currently in the UK,” Microsoft’s statement reads.
“This is because the Family Pack is designed as an upgrade SKU, and upgrade SKUs of Windows 7 E will not be available in the UK until at least 2010. However, Microsoft is currently working on the best solutions for its UK consumers, and will be in touch if there are any further announcements on this topic.”
The news means that US buyers will be able to get a Windows 7 Home Premium licence for around £30 each, while Brits will have to pay £80 until at least the turn of the year
August 27th, 2009 at 7:39 am
