Microsoft Details Multiple Versions of Windows 10

Despite the marketing being pushed by Microsoft, many seemed to speak too soon and completely bought into the “One Microsoft” tagline that the conglomerate is pushing for Windows 10. The company has officially confirmed multiple versions of Windows 10 for specific uses, and is reminding many of the Vista/7 version split.

Microsoft will officially offer seven versions of Windows 10 later this year in Windows 10 Home, Pro, Mobile, Enterprise, Education, Mobile Enterprise, and IoT Core. The two with the most relevant levels of interest for this article are 10 Mobile and the newly confirmed 10 Mobile Enterprise.

Windows 10 Mobile/Enterprise will include the same universal apps available to other versions of the operating system, such as productivity software, security tools, and device management capabilities, especially necessary for Mobile Enterprise. While 10 Mobile Enterprise will be available, it will only be offered to Volume Licensing business and corporate customers along with exclusive deployment tools in Windows Update for Business and Active Software Assurance.

The key feature in Windows 10 Mobile is Continuum, which will let owners  of a compatible Windows 10 smartphone use one as a full Windows PC, when connected to specific peripherals such as a conventional display, keyboard, and mouse.

Microsoft has also confirmed that full versions of Windows 10 Home, Windows 10 Mobile, and Windows 10 Pro will be a free upgrade for one year for Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows Phone 8.1 devices, subject to specific device compatibility and availability. Microsoft has yet to issue a launch timeframe for Windows 10 Mobile.