Microsoft has ended its support to its most popular operating system Windows 7 which commands 56.7 per cent in the global reach and moved it to an extended support phase.
A year ago Microsoft had cautioned users about ending the support to Windows 7 and that it would occur in January 2015. 13 January had been set as an official date. The tech giant discontinued the sales for the same in October 2013 and no consumer PCs have been in manufacturing since October 2014.
The term ‘end of mainstream support’ does not mean that Microsoft will stop all the PCs which run on Windows 7. It means that it will only stop adding features, enhancements and design changes to the OS. The current users of the OS will move to the ‘extended support’ phase wherein the users will have to pay, if there are issues at their end. This phase will on end 14 January 2020. Windows 8 and Windows 8.1, on the other hand, will reach the end of their mainstream support in January 2018, and their extended support is set to expire in January 2023.
During the period of extended support, it is likely that Microsoft will focus on persuading users who have not yet upgraded to Windows 8.X to upgrade to the upcoming Windows 10 instead. With the end of mainstream support, complimentary phone and online support from Microsoft will also be discontinued, though a paid online and phone support option will be available for another five years.
The next big event is in April 2017, when Windows Vista, a version almost as derided as Windows 8, reaches end of life, a milestone achieved by Windows XP at the same time last year.