Microsoft India Cuts Prices on Retail Packs of Vista Consumer Eds
IT News Online Staff
2008-03-18
Microsoft Corp. India Pvt. Ltd. has announced a range of price reductions on the retail versions of Windows Vista. Aimed at benefiting individuals (home users, self employed professionals and small business owners) purchasing stand-alone copies of Windows Vista, the price reduction is effective immediately and applicable only for Windows Vista Home Basic, Windows Vista Home Premium and Windows Vista Ultimate editions.
The reduction varies from 13% to 39%, with the estimated retail price for Windows Vista Home Basic Edition now at Rs. 4,000, Windows Vista Home Premium available for Rs. 5,300 and Windows Vista Ultimate at Rs. 11,500.
Traditionally, most customers buy the Windows operating system as a part of a new PC purchase. However, with the boom in the Indian retail segment and an increasing inclination to buy original software, there is a growing uptake for retail packs of the Windows operating system.
Microsoft said the revised price range for Windows Vista's consumer editions is reflective of its efforts towards understanding the change in purchasing patterns of its consumers and its flexibility in responding to new market conditions.
"Today, there is a transformation taking place in the way consumers purchase software. With the rise of the retail industry in India, we are witnessing increasing demand for off-the-shelf computer software from the do-it-yourself audiences. This reduction in pricing will enable us to reach out to this set of consumers, while at the same time providing our channel partners with a greater opportunity to sell original software," said Prasanna Meduri, Director, Windows Client Business Group, Microsoft India.
Globally, the revised rates of Windows Vista vary from market to market and the price cut in India is at par with emerging markets. In a growing market like India, Microsoft said this price reduction is expected to have a significant impact on consumers looking to upgrade to Windows Vista.
The restructured pricing will encourage first time Windows customers who want more functionality than what is available in current Windows XP, to move to Windows Vista. The new price lines will also enable consumers to experience the benefits of original Windows software.
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