Steven Sinofsky, president of the Microsoft Windows group, delivers his presentation at the launch of Microsoft Windows 8, in New York, on Oct. 25, 2012. AP FILE PHOTO/RICHARD DREW
NEW YORK—Microsoft said Tuesday it has sold more than 100 million licenses for the Windows 8 operating system launched six months ago, and will release an updated version later this year.
“Windows Blue is a code name for an update that will be available later this year, building on the bold vision set forward with Windows 8 to deliver the next generation of tablets and PCs,” said Microsoft chief marketing officer Tami Reller in a blog post.
“It will deliver the latest new innovations across an increasingly broad array of form factors of all sizes, display, battery life and performance, while creating new opportunities for our ecosystem.”
She added that Windows Blue “is part of a broader effort to advance our devices and services for Microsoft.”
Reller noted that “we recently surpassed the 100 million licenses sold mark for Windows 8,” including for new devices and upgrades. That is up from 60 million in the latest company update in January.
Commenting on the lukewarm response to Windows 8, Reller said the new operating system “is a big, ambitious change.”
“While we realize that change takes time, we feel good about the progress since launch, including what we’ve been able to accomplish with the ecosystem and customer reaction to the new PCs and tablets that are available now or will soon come to market,” she added.