Microsoft Introduces a Promo Offering One Year of Free Windows 7 Support to Some Enterprise Customers

End of an Era: 1 in 4 Computers Are Still Running Windows 7

Microsoft introduced an extended support system for enterprises that they could buy after Windows 7 hits the end of support deadline in January, 2020. It was quite an expensive plan with a per device fee increasing each year. The Windows maker is now offering one year of free post-retirement support to some of its high-tiered enterprises.

"EA and EAS customers with active subscription licenses to Windows 10 Enterprise E5, Microsoft 365 E5, or Microsoft 365 E5 Security (as of December 31, 2019) will get Windows 7 Extended Security Updates for Year 1 as a benefit," Microsoft said in a FAQ document (spotted by CW). "With this limited-time promotion, customers have more options to continue receiving Windows 7 security updates after end of support."

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"Qualifying subscription licenses must remain active throughout the full ESU coverage period, or the free ESU coverage expires with the subscription," the company added.

Offer runs from June 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019

Businesses can avail this promo until December 31, 2019. The qualifying subscriptions include:

• Windows E5
• Microsoft 365 E5
• Microsoft 365 E5 Security

As for why the company is offering this promo, Microsoft writes that while "Windows 10 is already well underway in thousands of organizations around the world," it is expected that more than 30% of Windows Commercial devices will still be on Windows 7 by the end of this year.

"This represents a significant opportunity and risk in FY20," the company writes. "We therefore expect significant demand for Windows 7 ESU for security and compliance purposes. We are launching this promo now because we want to protect our Windows E5 customers across all devices, including Windows 7 devices that might have not yet migrated to Windows 10."

As reported earlier this year, the Extended Security Updates (ESU) plan ranges between $25 to $50 per device per year, doubling with each passing year. Microsoft will offer this extended support to Windows 7 devices for an additional 3 years, ending it in January 2023. Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Enterprise, and Windows 7 Ultimate can avail this extended support plan.