Microsoft has sold 40 million Windows 8 licenses since the launch of the operating system last month, it has been revealed. Tami Reller, the finance and marketing head of the Windows division, said that Windows 8 seems to be faring better than better than its predecessor Windows 7, which sold just over 60 million units in the first 10 weeks of sales in 2009. Although Reller did not specify whether the licenses were upgrades or people buying machines running the new software, it’s predicted that the growth will be mainly down to upgrades, which cost around £25 per license. “Windows 8 upgrade momentum is outpacing that of Windows 7,” said Reller, speaking at an investor conference held by Credit Suisse. Microsoft released the Windows 8 platform last month, alongside a raft of new Windows Phone 8 handsets and its first foray into the tablet market with its Surface with Windows RT hybrid. The touch-friendly operating system is seen as a way for the software giant to compete against Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android, whose smartphones and tablets lead the market.
