Microsoft drops Windows 7 discounts in Europe

Microsoft's revised plans for Windows 7 mean that UK and European buyers will no longer be able to get the full version of the new operating system at an upgrade price.

Microsoft originally disclosed its Windows 7 pricing in June, saying that an upgrade version would not be available in Europe owing to wrangles with the European Commission over the bundling of Internet Explorer. Instead, UK buyers were offered the full version at an upgrade price.

With the Internet Explorer issue resolved, an upgrade version of Windows 7 will now be available in Europe, and Microsoft is adjusting its pricing accordingly from 1 September.

From this date, the upgrade version of Windows 7 Home Premium will be available at a special introductory price of £79.99 until 31 December, after which it will cost £99.99.

Upgrade versions of Windows 7 Professional and Windows 7 Ultimate will cost £189.99 and £199.99 respectively.

The full versions of Home Premium, Professional and Ultimate will set buyers back £149.99, £219.99 and £229.99 respectively.

Under Microsoft's original pricing plan, these latter prices would only have come into effect from January 2010.