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Updated! Important Program Dates
Update @ June 26 : Today's the day! Microsoft and their OEM partners will announce the Windows 7 Upgrade Option program today! If you waited on your new system purchase because of what we covered in this program, then today is the day you get to praise yourself for your wisdom and patience. Enjoy your free upgrade to Windows 7!
Important Program Dates for the Windows 7 Upgrade Program are listed in the table below. Although the program was originally slated to begin on July 1, Microsoft adjusted the date to June 26, 2009 on March 19. This slight adjustment was done at the request of many OEMs to allow for better sales over the first weekend of the Program.
Program Eligibility Period |
June 26, 2009 through January 31, 2010 * |
Program Calculation Period |
April 1, 2009 through October 31, 2009 |
Initial Upgrade Media Fulfillment Date |
October 22, 2009 |
Final Software Fulfillment Date / Program End Date |
April 30, 2010 |
For other important dates and details, take a look at the latest Microsoft Windows 7 roadmap.
New! Marketing Guidance
For those who still wonder about the truth of such a program, perhaps this marketing communication by Microsoft will dispel all doubts :
Goal : Maintain sales of Windows Vista PCs before Windows 7 GA (General Availability) and drive strong Windows 7 sales.
Strategy : Market Windows 7 when product is available for purchase
June 18 - June 26, 2009 : No proactive Windows 7 end user marketing or use of Microsoft-provided Windows 7 visual assets.
June 26 - October 21, 2009 : Continue to offer Windows Vista and use only the Windows 7 Upgrade Option Program marketing elements provided by Microsoft. OEMs are to actively promote the Windows 7 Upgrade Option Program to end users who are in the purchase consideration phase. They are also to promote quantity-limited and time-limited Windows 7 Full Package Product (FPP) pre-order offer using Microsoft-provided Windows 7 visual assets.
October 22, 2009 onwards : Actively promote Windows 7 to end users using Microsoft-provided visual assets and messaging.
OEMs may not distribute systems licensed with any Windows 7 products until October 22, 2009. They also may not take pre-orders or make pre-sales of Windows 7 systems prior to 3 days before the Windows 7 GA (General Availability) date, which is again on October 22, 2009.
Marketing Materials
This is of no importance to most users, but it gives us an interesting look at how Microsoft plans for the marketing of the Windows 7 Upgrade Option Program.
Item |
Planned Availability |
|
OEM partner marketing guidelines |
Week of March 23, 2009 |
|
Lock up |
Week of March 23, 2009 |
|
Label template for fulfillment media |
Week of March 23, 2009 |
|
Offer headline and copy blocks |
Week of March 23, 2009 |
|
Element items : |
Week of March 23, 2009 |
|
Partner presentation |
Week of March 23, 2009 |
|
SKU chart chooser |
April 2009 |
|
Battlecard |
April 2009 |
|
"7 cool things about 7" booklet |
To be determined |
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