More than 40 million Windows 8 licenses sold so far: Microsoft

It’s been just over a month since Windows 8 was launched, but it appears the new operating system has given its critics a reason to shut up and reconsider. Microsoft yesterday revealed that it has sold 40 million Windows 8 licenses since its launch on October 26. According to a report by CNET, the figures were announced by Tami Reller, Chief Marketing and Financial Officer for Windows, during the Credit Suisse Annual Tech Conference. She did not mention any figures for the Surface RT tablets though.

We think you should take these figures with a pinch of salt, though, as Reller has not mentioned whether these figures are of Windows 8 licenses sold directly to consumers, upgrade license sales, or channel sales.

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Microsoft has not officially released any sales figures for Windows 8 so far, except for CEO Steve Ballmer stating that the company had sold more than 4 million upgrade licenses in the first three days of its launch. Ballmer was speaking at a meeting for software developers at Microsoft’s headquarters near Seattle. He said hundreds of millions of Windows systems would be sold over the next year, and the company was seeing strong interest from business users. Ballmer had earlier stated that Windows 8 was outselling the previous version, Windows 7, at the same stage after launch three years ago.

Who said sales figures don’t shut up critics?

CNET reports that Reller revealed a few more figures during her presentation at the conference. She stated that Microsoft has certified 1,500 computers and tablets for Windows 8 so far, and that the number of apps available in the Microsoft app store has doubled since it was launched. She also mentioned that some applications in the Windows Store have earned more than $25,000 in revenue so far.

Windows 8 includes a new user interface (UI), and a range of applications. The operating system features a new Start screen that gives people quick access to the apps and content they use the most. It also features an entirely new Internet Explorer 10 designed for touch and built-in cloud capabilities with SkyDrive. In collaboration with hardware partners, Microsoft made more than 1,000 certified PCs and tablets, including Microsoft Surface, available for the launch of Windows 8.

Windows 8 is available in two primary versions — Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro, as well as Windows 8 Enterprise for large organisations. Launched at the same time was a new member of the Windows family, Windows RT, which is designed for ARM-based tablets and is pre-installed on new devices. In addition to Microsoft Office 2013, Windows RT is designed exclusively for apps in the new Windows Store.

In addition to the range of new Windows-based devices available, customers can also upgrade their existing PCs. Till the end of January, customers currently running PCs with Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7 are qualified to download an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for an estimated retail price of Rs 1,999. If you have purchased a Windows 7 PC between June 2, 2012, and January 31, 2013, and are from one of the 140 markets the offer is available in, you can download an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for an estimated retail price of Rs 700 with the Windows Upgrade Offer, available here.