Microsoft is taking the wraps off its SKU line-up for Windows 10. But it
still isn't sharing many feature, pricing or licensing specifics.
Microsoft is going public with its list of planned SKUs, or editions,
that it will make available for Windows 10 PCs, tablets, phones and
embedded devices ahead of this summer's planned launch of the operating system.
Not counting the three embedded/Internet of Things (IoT) versions,
there will be six Windows 10 SKUs: Home, Mobile, Pro, Enterprise, Education and Mobile Enterprise, according to a May 13 blog post from Windows Marketing chief Tony Prophet.
When Microsoft introduced Windows 8 in 2012, there were four main Windows 8 SKUs:
The Windows 8 consumer SKU; Windows 8 Pro SKU for tech enthusiasts and
business professionals; Windows RT, the version of Windows designed to
run on ARM-based hardware; and Windows 8 Enterprise. Microsoft
subsequently added a
Windows 8.1 for Education SKU.
Microsoft is not yet disclosing the standalone pricing or the detailed
feature set and licensing specifics of its Windows 10 SKUs.
As Microsoft said months ago, the company plans to make Windows 10 available as
a free upgrade for consumers running Windows 7, Windows 8.x and Windows Phone 8.1
for the first year following availability of the Windows 10 operating
system. Some business users -- those who want Windows 10 Pro -- also will qualify for the first-year-free deal, but enterprise customers will not, Microsoft execs have said.
Here's the Windows 10 SKU line-up:
Windows 10 Home: The consumer-focused desktop edition.
This will include the core Windows 10 features, such as the Edge
browser, Continuum tablet-mode for touch-capable devices; Cortana
integration; free Photos, Maps, Mail, Calendar; Music and Video apps;
and Windows Hello face-recognition/iris/fingerprint log-in for devices
that support those technologies. On devices with screen sizes of 10.1
inches or less, users also will get Universal Office apps for free, once they are available.
Windows 10 Mobile: This is the SKU for Windows Phones
and small Intel- and ARM-based tablets. This SKU will include the core
Windows 10 features; free Universal Office apps once they are available;
and support for Continuum for Phone, allowing customers to use phones
as PCs connected to larger screens (but only on new devices supporting
certain screen resolutions).
Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise: This is a version of
Windows 10 Mobile for volume licensing customers only. According to the
blog post, this SKU incorporates the latest security and feature
updates to Windows 10 once they are available. There's no word if users
will be able to delay these updates in order to test/stagger their
delivery, which is offered under Windows Update for Business.
Windows 10 Pro: A desktop version of Windows 10 for
mobile workers, tech enthusiasts and other power users. This version is
one of at least two -- the other being Windows 10 Enterprise -- that will allow users to opt for Windows
Update for Business. Windows Update for Business will allow admins to
opt to not receive all feature and security updates from Microsoft
immediately after they are available.
Windows 10 Enterprise: This is the Enterprise version
of Windows 10 that is available to volume-licensing customers. This
version is not part of Microsoft's first-year-free upgrade offer, but
those with volume-licensing Software Assurance customers will be able to
move to this version as part of their licensing terms. The Enterprise
version customers get access to the
Long Term Servicing Branch of Windows 10 -- which allows them to opt to receive security fixes only and no new features as Microsoft rolls them out.
Windows 10 Education: This is the version for staff,
administrators, students and teachers, and will be available through
academic Volume Licensing. Microsoft officials say there will be paths
for schools and students to upgrade from Windows 10 Home and Pro, but
don't yet provide details on that front.
On the Windows 10 embedded device front,
Microsoft also is planning to deliver Windows 10 Enterprise and Windows
10 Mobile Enterprise versions of the operating system for handheld
terminals, ATMs, point of sale and other similar devices, as well as a
Windows 10 IoT Core for small footprint, low-cost devices.
Microsoft execs still aren't providing granular details about upgrades,
such as whether those who go for the first-year-free deal with SKUs like
Windows 10 Pro will have the option of delaying/staggering their
feature and security updates, the way enterprise users will be able to.
Another unanswered question: Will Windows Phone users who are running
the Windows 10 Mobile (and not Mobile Enterprise) version still be able
to use Intune and Microsoft's Enterprise Mobility Suite to lock down
their devices? Microsoft isn't yet saying.
"The Long Term Servicing branch being an enterprise level feature is the
most interesting news here because that's the gateway for businesses who want to continue doing business as usual," said Wes Miller, an analyst with Directions on Microsoft.
~ Mary Jo Foley 
