Windows7 enters India, but partially

NEW DELHI, INDIA: Microsoft Corporation India today announced the availability of Windows 7 for its customers in India but only editions embedded in computers through Original equipment makers (OEMs) will be available in the market.

Those customer who are looking for only Windows 7 and not going to buy new PC will have to wait for sometime as the all six stock keeping units (SKUs) of Windows7 is waiting for custom clearance.

However, company is optimistic that it will get clearance with next couple of days. "We are not sure when the SKUs will get clearance but it can happen anytime. It can happen today and also within next two days," said Rajan Anandan, managing director, Microsoft Corporation India.

Announcing the Windows 7 launch in India, Ravi Venkatesan, chairman - Microsoft India said, "Proactive engagement and feedback thereof with partners and consumers was fundamental to the development of Windows 7. It has helped deliver what is the highest quality OS in the history of Windows. Over 90 per cent of testers from around the world have rated it as 'good' or 'extremely good' and consider Windows 7 to be responsive, simple to use and stable."

With features such as Aero Shake, Peek, Snap, Jump Lists and a redesigned Windows Taskbar, Windows 7 is designed to become the control center for all the media and make it easy to do more with photos, music, movies and videos. New features like HomeGroup, Play To, Windows Live Movie Maker and Remote Media Streaming in Windows 7 will help consumers discover easy and exciting new ways to have fun and get new things done with the PC.

The new OS is available in six editions, targeted at specific user groups and addressing all segments of the market. The two primary editions are: Windows 7 Home Premium for home consumers and Windows 7 Professional for small and medium sized businesses. Also available in the line-up are Windows 7 Starter, Windows 7 Home Basic (in Emerging Markets only), Windows 7 Enterprise and Windows 7 Ultimate. The FPP pricing for Windows 7 has reduced in the range of 25-35 per cent over Windows Vista, for most SKUs.

Windows7 starter is only available with OEM. Home Basic, premium, professional, utlimate and enterprise edition will be available in market. The estimated price of home basic edition is Rs5800, premium is Rs 6000, professional is Rs 11000 and Ultimate editionn is Rs.11800. Enterprise edition is free for those enterprise who have service agreement with Microsoft Corporation India.

Windows 7 is available at more than 45,000 retailers around the world and in India, all 16 OEMs will bring in more than 100 different Windows 7 PCs within 30 days from today.

Globally, more than 17,000 software and hardware companies are building solutions on Windows 7 and over 50,000 developers are enrolled in the Windows Ecosystem Readiness Program.

Earlier there were reports that India might miss the Windows 7 launch as the Union budget had altered the tax structure for packaged software, as a result, the software packaged media or CD would be taxed twice or they would require to pay the excise duty and the software license would require to pay the service tax. Microsoft had consulted Nasscom in this regard, and the body had taken up this issue with the government.