Microsoft is considering offering a free version of Windows 8.1 bundled with its own services to help boost takeup of the new OS.
"Windows 8.1 with Bing" would be a free or low-cost upgrade from Windows 7, according to a report from The Verge.
It would be offered to consumers bundled with Microsoft services, and could also be handed to manufacturers to help drive down device costs. Microsoft would presumably claw back revenue through consumers using its own services.
The report suggested the free or cheap version of Windows 8.1 was an experimental idea that might never come to fruition, but that a version of the code had already leaked online.
However, Windows watcher Mary Jo Foley noted that much would have to change for Windows 8.1 with Bing to work, pointing out that many of Microsoft's services are already available for free. Microsoft would have little to gain other than new users, she observed - unless it were to start charging for some services.
That's not as far-fetched as it may seem, given the company's push to cloud services. Microsoft may be hoping to sign up subscribers to Office 365 or paid-for accounts on OneDrive.
Microsoft is expected to unveil the first major update to Windows 8.1 at its Build conference at the beginning of April.
-1.jpg&w=100&c=1&s=0)
.png&w=100&c=1&s=0)
