http://blogs.windows.com/bloggingwindows/2015/01/21/the-next-generation-of-windows-windows-10/

Quote:

"Delivering Windows as a Service and a Free Upgrade to Windows 10

Today was a monumental day for us on the Windows team because we shared our desire to redefine the relationship we have with you – our customers. We announced that a free upgrade for Windows 10 will be made available to customers running Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows Phone 8.1 who upgrade in the first year after launch.*

This is more than a one-time upgrade: once a Windows device is upgraded to Windows 10, we will continue to keep it current for the supported lifetime of the device – at no cost. With Windows 10, the experience will evolve and get even better over time. We’ll deliver new features when they’re ready, not waiting for the next major release. We think of Windows as a Service – in fact, one could reasonably think of Windows in the next couple of years as one of the largest Internet services on the planet."

Very carefully worded and not easy to parse. My take:

1. Windows 10 will be subscription-only

2. Existing Windows 7 and up devices will have a 1-year window in which they can upgrade to 10 and not have to pay any further subscription fees for the lifetime of the device. This sounds pretty good for PCs but maybe not so for walled-garden devices such as phones and tablets, where the manufacturer can declare "no longer supported" by fiat. That could be used to force hardware upgrades.

3. There will probably be a rush to upgrade existing devices towards the end of that free year. Microsoft would like that from a support standpoint. Believe it or not mainstream support for Windows 7 ended last week (Jan. 13), and for Windows 8.1 will be January 9, 2018: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-ca/windows/lifecycle . It would get as many users on 10 as quickly as possible. Try to show that Windows remains relevant, to the largest possible audience.

4. New Windows 10 devices will probably include 1st year subscription in their purchase price, but require periodic fees after that.

5. Microsoft's stated goal is Windows as a service, no separate versions to worry about. This implies mandatory upgrades/updates which in many ways is a good thing. However, the temptation will be fierce for MS to move to a walled garden model, where a user's freedom to use their own device(s) is constantly eroded. Mandatory DRM, mandatory ID services/geolocation, mandatory advertising injection into delivered web content unless you upgrade to Premium level, then Premium Plus, then ...