Businesses to get Windows 7 on 1 September

 

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By Barry Collins

Posted on 14 Jul 2009 at 09:29

Volume licence customers will be offered the final version of Windows 7 from 1 September, Microsoft has announced.

The date gives businesses an eight week headstart on consumers, who won't get their hands on the software until general availability on 22 October.

Microsoft is also planning to offer volume licensing customers a discount of between 15 and 35% on Windows 7, depending on the number of seats and their geographical location.

Subscribers to Microsoft's MSDN and TechNet services are also likely to get their hands on the new operating system early, with the company announcing that "subscribers will be able to download the final version of Windows 7 a few weeks after we announce RTM".

Microsoft says it's on target to deliver Windows 7 RTM in the second half of this month, suggesting that MSDN or TechNet customers will likely see the software at the beginning of September as well.

Microsoft has also fleshed out the detail of its retail offering. The company says it will provide both 32- and 64-bit DVDs in both upgrade and full retail boxes. "Due to the incredible adoption of 64-bit today and customer feedback, we decided to change this for Windows 7," Microsoft's Brandon LeBlanc confirms on the Official Windows blog.

British buyers won't be offered upgrade versions until at least the beginning of 2010, following Microsoft's contretemps with the EU which have resulted in the company removing Internet Explorer from European versions of the operating system.

Windows 7 will be available on pre-order in the UK from tomorrow, priced at £50 for Home Premium and £99 for Professional.