Microsoft is planning to raise the price of Windows 8 upgrade by 400% to $199.99 in February 2013, upon the completion of three-month promotional discount that ends on 31 January 2013.
According to the software maker, from February, the Windows 8 Pro upgrade edition will be offered online for $199.99, while the Windows 8 upgrade edition can be purchased for $119.99 and the prices of Windows 8 Pro Pack and Media Center Pack will be $99.99 and $9.99 respectively.
The upgrade prices for Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro have been similar to the suggested list prices for Windows 7 Home Premium and Windows 7 Professional upgrades, while the Pro Pack’s price is 11% more than Microsoft’s earlier charge for the ‘AnytimeUpgrade’ from Windows 7 Home Premium to Windows 7 Professional.
Currently, Windows 8 offers about 35,000 apps in its marketplace and the company is expecting rise in apps during 2013.
Microsoft reported Windows 8 sales have hit 60 million since its launch in October 2012, which represents the collective sales of Windows 8 that includes both upgrades and sales to OEMs for new devices.
The firm has also seen 1,700 certified systems for Windows 8 and Windows RT, while, about 20 million Windows 8 licenses and upgrades have been sold since late November 2012, while about 40 million were sold during the initial month of the release.