Itsme
03-21-2006, 06:42 PM
Microsoft to delay consumer release of Windows Vista
By ALLISON LINN
AP BUSINESS WRITER
SEATTLE -- Microsoft Corp. said Tuesday that it will not release the consumer version of its new Windows operating system until January 2007, after previously saying it hoped to release the software in time for the holiday season.
Jim Allchin, co-president of the Microsoft division that includes Windows, said that the company would release some versions of the new operating system for big businesses by November as planned, but the consumer version would be held until January.
Allchin said the decision to delay the release came after Microsoft realized that Vista would be completed several weeks later than originally planned, in large part because of efforts to improve security in the new system. That was enough for some retailers, computer makers and other corporate partners to say they would have trouble preparing for the holiday season.
"The fact is that we wanted everybody in the industry to be ready for this," Allchin told journalists and analysts in a conference call.
Businesses who buy a number of Windows licenses at the same time will be able to get the system in November. Although the consumer versions will be ready at the same time, Allchin said the Redmond software maker will essentially hold back that software so computer makers and others have time to prepare for a January release.
Windows Vista is Microsoft first major update to the company's flagship operating system since Windows XP was released in late 2001.
By ALLISON LINN
AP BUSINESS WRITER
SEATTLE -- Microsoft Corp. said Tuesday that it will not release the consumer version of its new Windows operating system until January 2007, after previously saying it hoped to release the software in time for the holiday season.
Jim Allchin, co-president of the Microsoft division that includes Windows, said that the company would release some versions of the new operating system for big businesses by November as planned, but the consumer version would be held until January.
Allchin said the decision to delay the release came after Microsoft realized that Vista would be completed several weeks later than originally planned, in large part because of efforts to improve security in the new system. That was enough for some retailers, computer makers and other corporate partners to say they would have trouble preparing for the holiday season.
"The fact is that we wanted everybody in the industry to be ready for this," Allchin told journalists and analysts in a conference call.
Businesses who buy a number of Windows licenses at the same time will be able to get the system in November. Although the consumer versions will be ready at the same time, Allchin said the Redmond software maker will essentially hold back that software so computer makers and others have time to prepare for a January release.
Windows Vista is Microsoft first major update to the company's flagship operating system since Windows XP was released in late 2001.