The official support for Windows 7 ends after January 14, 2020. If you want to continue using Windows 7 with security updates, you have to sign a contract with us. For the time being, Microsoft only offers a plan up to three years after the official support.
The prices of Microsoft’s official security support after January 14, 2020 have been leaked. It launches a new program called Extended Security Updates (ESU). Unlike previous extended security updates, Windows 7 ESU updates are only available as volume license customers.
There is no minimum purchase limit for ESU subscriptions. Companies can choose how many Windows 7 machines they want to provide with security updates. It is not clear whether discounts are possible for larger volumes.
Annual doubling
For organizations running Windows 7 Enterprise, the first year of updates will cost an additional $25 per device. This doubles in the second year to 50 dollars and even to 100 dollars in the third year. Companies can’t skip a year. Anyone who signs up from the second or third year onwards will also have to pay in previous years.
For Windows 7 Pro, the prices are spicier. The first year costs $50 per handset, doubling each year to $200 per handset in the third year. ZDNet has received an official response from Microsoft in which they refer to a blog last year with more details about the ESU plans (without prizes).
The Microsoft spokesman also states that customers can collaborate with Microsoft on price agreements. These are probably recommended retail prices and companies with a large number of licenses can discuss more competitive prices.
Windows Virtual Desktop
With the aggressive prices imposed by Microsoft, the software giant hopes that companies will switch to Windows Virtual Desktop. These cloud-hosted virtual machines receive free Windows 7 ESU updates in addition to the cost of the basic license. On top of that, of course, there is also the cost of the virtual machine on which the system runs.
January 14, 2020 is an important deadline for many companies. Many machines have not yet been upgraded to Windows 10. At the end of last year, 36.9 percent of all laptops and desktops worldwide were still running on Windows 7. If you want to prepare your company for an upgrade to Windows 7, you should start doing so today. Be sure to go through our comprehensive guide to crucial upgrade tips.
Related: End of Windows 7: what you need to know before you upgrade to Windows 10
This news article was automatically translated from Dutch to give Techzine.eu a head start. All news articles after September 1, 2019 are written in native English and NOT translated. All our background stories are written in native English as well. For more information read our launch article.