Microsoft offers Vista, Office 2007 online

Microsoft announced late Wednesday that it will make the Windows Vista operating system available for sale and download online, enabling the customers to download the consumer version of new Vista from the internet itself.

Besides the upcoming consumer version of Vista, the online downloads service, called the Windows Anytime Upgrade, will also include the Office 2007 line of software.

The online download service would allow customers to upgrade their existing edition of Windows Vista to a higher-grade edition by way of an online transaction.

This is the first time Redmond, Wash.-based software maker is going to sell OS on the net. Previously, the company has sold Windows only on packaged discs or pre-loaded on computers.

Windows Vista has been available to businesses since Nov. 30 and will be available worldwide Jan. 30.

Microsoft’s download service, which will initially be available in North America only, is targeted at people who are using the prior operating system, Windows XP, and want to get Vista without having to buy a new PC. However, Vista requires some specific hardware configurations that not all Windows XP machines can meet.

According to the market analysts, a very small number of customers are going to get Vista by downloading it from the Internet. Consumers will get Vista already installed on new PCs bought after Jan. 30.

For consumers, Vista will come in four versions, including Home Basic, which retails for $199, Home Premium ($239) Business ($299) and Ultimate ($399). Though consumers will pick one version when they buy a computer, higher versions will be embedded on the machine's hard drive or packaged on discs that come with it.

Those who want to upgrade from existing editions to more premium editions of Windows Vista can choose the following options: Home Basic to Home Premium $79, Home Basic to Ultimate $199, Home Premium to Ultimate $159 and Business to Ultimate $139.

To use Windows Anytime Upgrade, a customer will have to click on a Windows Anytime Upgrade option in the Start menu, select the desired upgrade edition, purchase it online to secure a new coded license key, and then follow the on-screen instructions to complete the upgrade.

Microsoft also announced the online availability of the Windows Vista and the 2007 Microsoft Office through Windows Marketplace, the largest online destination for buying software that runs on Windows, at their standard list prices.

The software giant also announced a limited-time offer for customers who buy retail copies of Windows Vista Ultimate. Under the scheme, which will remain effective from Jan. 30 through June 30, the North American buyers of Vista Ultimate would get two additional copies of Windows Vista Home Premium at the reduced price of $49.99 each.

Telling about the discount scheme, Bill Mannion, a director in the Windows marketing group said the offer is intended for those customers who tend to have more than one PC, to whom the company has termed as the ‘super-engaged customers.’ "This is a focused program designed to encourage these super-engaged customers to upgrade multiple PCs in the household" he added.