Microsoft has announced that Windows 10 will launch in “summer” this year in 190 countries and 111 languages. The launch will also come with with a new biometric authentication process intended to replace traditional passwords.
No specific date was revealed, but Windows chief Terry Myerson said Microsoft was committed to a summer release during a speech at the Windows Hardware Engineering Community (WinHEC) summit in Shenzhen, China.
Furthermore, Microsoft also said that it’s going to make this upgrade free to all “qualified” PCs, genuine and non-genuine. The company is reportedly trying to re-engage users that currently using pirated software in China where recent studies show that 75% of PCs run on illegal versions.
Terry Myerson also said that the company will strengthen its partnership with Lenovo and develop new Windows 10 smartphones. Microsoft is also partnering with Xiaomi to possibly launch a new Windows phone range and a clever new Windows ROM, that could be used to convert an Android mobile to one running Windows 10. The company is testing the new ROM by giving selected owners of Mi4 the chance to “help test Windows 10 and contribute to its future release later this year.”
