Microsoft has released some numbers related to the sales of their new Windows 8 operating system, giving some insight as to what has been happening for the OS’s first month or so on sale.
According to an official blog post, Microsoft corporate vice president Tami Reller said at a presentation yesterday at the Credit Suisse 2012 Annual Technology Conference that Windows 8 has sold 40 million copies or licenses over a five week period.
The rate of sales for Microsoft’s new offering is estimated to be in line with the pickup of Windows 7 when it first launched which, given that Windows 7 was replacing the ill-received Vista, could be a very positive sign for the company at the moment. Sales of upgrade licenses for Windows 8 are outstripping those of Windows 7 over the same time period, something which could be attributed to the limited time reduced cost of the upgrade.
At the moment Microsoft is offering Windows 8 upgrade licenses for $39.99, an offer that is running until the end of January 2013.
Source: Ars Technica