Microsoft combats Chinese piracy with US$15 Win 8 upgrades

Want China Times, Staff Reporter 2012-11-18

A Microsoft store in Beijing. (File photo/Xinhua)

Microsoft is offering its customers in China upgrades to its Window 8 operating system for a record low 98 yuan (US$15); remarkable enough, but even more so as the company is allowing upgrades from pirated versions of the software -- something previously unthinkable.

Chinese users have found they are eligible for the 98-yuan upgrade regardless the brand of their computer and whether their computer came with the software pre-installed at the time of purchase. Users of pirated versions are also able to upgrade to the genuine version through Microsoft's official website, according to the Beijing Youth Daily, the official newspaper of Communist Youth League.

The US technology firm has offered a US$69.99 promotional price for Window 8 valid until Jan. 13 next year. Users of Windows 7, Vista and XP can upgrade to the latest OS for US$39.99 and anyone with a Window-based computer purchased from June 2 this year until Jan. 13, 2013 can apply for the upgrade via Microsoft's website.

The price of the latest incarnation of the ubiquitous operating system is the lowest yet. The English and Chinese versions of Windows XP released in 2001 were 1,700 yuan (US$270) and 1,600 yuan (US$250) respectively. Windows 2000 cost around 1,200 yuan (US$190), according to the newspaper.

So far Microsoft's strategy has been well-received. The operating system has not yet been pirated rampantly in China. If the company finds this strategy significantly reduces piracy in the country, it may continue to launch promotions after the upgrade is expires in February next year, a source close to the technology firm said.