Microsoft Windows 10 won’t reach all 1bn eligible devices on 29 July launch day

3 Jul 2015

In four weeks, on 29 July, the next Microsoft operation system Windows 10 will be made available. However, not all 1bn eligible devices will get it on day one, but instead it will arrive in phases.

Microsoft has revealed that from 29 July Windows 10 will roll out in phases in order to keep up with demand.

Microsoft software chief Terry Myerson said that 1bn devices from Windows 7 to Windows 8.1 PCs and tablets will be eligible for the new OS, and so far millions of reservations have been made.

The new OS will come with Microsoft’s artificial intelligence technology Cortana built in, as well as the new Microsoft Edge browser, unified computing platform Continuum and other features.

Insiders first

windows-10-ready

Look for this sign for when your computer is ready to download Windows 10

But when it comes to launch day, the first people to get their hands on the new OS will be Windows Insiders, those who signed up to test Windows 10 during the beta process.

“For the first time, we will deliver Windows as a service, with the commitment to offer ongoing innovations and security updates to you,” Myerson said.

“From there, we will start notifying reserved systems in waves, slowly scaling up after 29 July. Each day of the rollout, we will listen, learn and update the experience for all Windows 10 users.

“If you reserved your copy of Windows 10, we will notify you once our compatibility work confirms you will have a great experience, and Windows 10 has been downloaded on your system.

“If your system is not ready yet for your upgrade to Windows 10, we will provide more details during the upgrade experience. In some cases, we will include contact information so you can follow up directly with an application provider or device manufacturer to learn more. For most upgrade incompatibilities, you may still choose to complete the upgrade, and find alternative compatible solutions in the Windows Store after you upgrade,” Myerson said.

Windows 10 Pro for business customers will be available from 29 July and volume licensing customers will be able to download Windows 10 Enterprise and Windows 10 Education on Volume Licensing Service Center (VLSC) starting 1 August.

Myerson said that in the lead-up to launch day Microsoft has been testing millions of systems and full compatibility is possible across the majority of Windows 8x and Windows 7x systems.

“We are not yet done, we will never be done – we will be continuing this application and device compatibility work every day as part of our ongoing commitment to Windows as a service.”

The next step is to give Windows 10 to OEM partners like Dell and Lenovo so they can start putting it on new devices.

This will be followed by the distribution of Windows 10 to retailers so they can update new devices to the OS.

Microsoft logo image via Shutterstock

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com