Microsoft confirms 4 million Windows 8 upgrades over opening weekend
Ballmer claims that "tens of millions" of corporate copies have shipped, but didn't specify install base.
Microsoft has revealed that 4 million users upgraded to Windows 8 over the opening weekend.
CEO Steve Ballmer confirmed the number during his keynote at the Build 2012 conference on Monday and predicted that 400 million devices will be running Windows 8 by the end of 2013. This would eclipse the uptake of Windows 7, which sold around 175 million copies in it's first year.
However, with many enterprises still making the jump from Windows XP to Windows 7, business uptake remains unclear. Ballmer was bullish in his assessment, claiming that "tens of millions" of corporate copies have been sent out to enterprises and that they will upgrade when they're ready.
Microsoft is working hard to ensure that Windows 8 is one of the most successful versions of the OS to date. The firm is spending an estimated $1bn on advertising and has closely tied in the desktop OS to the Windows Phone 8 mobile operating system.
Redmond is also encouraging users to upgrade to Windows 8 with a special offer. Any users who purchased a Windows 7 PC between 2 June 2012 and 31 January 2013 will be able to upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for 15.
It remains to be seen whether Microsoft will disclose sales of its Surface RT tablet, which enters a crowded market dominated by the iPad.
IT best practices for accelerating the journey to carbon neutrality
Considerations and pragmatic solutions for IT executives driving sustainable IT
Free DownloadThe Total Economic Impact™ of IBM Spectrum Virtualize
Cost savings and business benefits enabled by storage built with IBMSpectrum Virtualize
Free downloadUsing application migration and modernisation to supercharge business agility and resiliency
Modernisation can propel your digital transformation to the next generation
Free Download
