Microsoft to keep free tag on Windows 10 Mobile upgrades after July 29

Windows 10 is currently available as a free upgrade if you are coming from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, but this offer will not last for long. Just like everyone else, you will have to pay to get Microsoft's latest operating system after July 29. Question is, how does the free upgrade deadline impact Windows 10 Mobile?

While Windows 10 and Windows 10 Mobile did not launch at the same time, Microsoft positions the two operating systems as sister products. They have a shared core, many features in common, similar UI components, and even the build numbers are now the same as you probably know if you follow Windows Insider builds. So, understandably, there is some confusion over whether would-be Windows 10 Mobile users will have to pay for an upgrade after the Windows 10 deadline passes.

So, the new lead of the Windows Insider program, Dona Sarkar, has taken to Twitter to clarify that "there are no implications or cost on phone". Basically, Windows Phone 8.1 users will be able to upgrade to Windows 10 Mobile whenever they want, without having to worry about upgrade fees.

This is actually not the least bit surprising. Anyone familiar with software upgrades for smartphones should know that they are offered free of charge. Things work differently in this market compared to the PC market as, first of all, users expect the upgrades to be offered as such. Try to change that and you might as well quit the market altogether.

Something else worth mentioning is that while Windows 10 has been available for nearly a year now, Windows 10 Mobile upgrades were released more recently. In fact, we were still talking about upgrades being tested in early-April. This is another dead giveaway why Microsoft can't mirror its Windows 10 policy onto Windows 10 Mobile as well.

I believe that this will not stop some folks from raising these kind of questions again as we approach the big deadline. But at least there is some official information that should clear up any doubts that they may have.

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