Australia — Responding to criticism over the lack of the Windows 7 Family Pack during last month’s introduction of the new OS, Microsoft Australia has finally yielded to pressure from customers and retailers and unleashed a local version of the bundle — which includes three licenses for Windows 7 Home Premium — for $249.
Just in time for Christmas — Microsoft Australia coming to its senses! Starting December 1 Microsoft’s Australian retail partners will put on sale the software under a Family Pack licensing scheme that had previously only been available to its US customers.
Originally hesitating to confirm whether Australia could be part of the previously announced “limited pilot” to see whether consumers would prefer to, you know, actually save money on multiple Windows 7 purchases, even unable to say so at Win 7’s official launch, the news has come today that the Family Pack is now available in Australia.
The Windows 7 Family Pack, which holds software licenses to upgrade three computers from previous versions of the software, will carry a recommended retail price of $249.
Microsoft’s Jeff Putt, in a prepared statement stated that Microsoft had “reviewed to the feedback from our customers and we are very pleased to announce that we are piloting Family Pack in Australia as part of our Christmas offers.”
The Family Pack bargain has been available in the US since Windows 7 launched on October 22 but was not offered to Australian consumers, although they could buy the family packs online at US retailers.
“We encourage buyers to find out the street price, to check online, because many retailer will have a different price” Putt, said in a statement. “I have already noticed a number of them have lower prices on Windows, so more than ever it really pays to shop around.” It has already listed at DSE (as the Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade 3 User Pack) for $237.
The move is intended to encourage sales of the operating system over the Christmas period. There will only be limited copies available, and Microsoft will not disclose how many. The company has not said if the Family Pack will be offered on a permanent basis. An official statement from company read: “Microsoft is expecting Windows 7 Family Pack to do well in Australia and that it will sell out. Family Pack is a limited trial and once the pilot has concluded, we will evaluate the results and move forward from that point. We have no further plans around Windows 7 offers to share at this time.”
The announcement comes as sharp criticism of Microsoft’s Windows 7 international pricing policy by its premier retail partner. Small computer resellers will be left out, with the Family Pack pilot only running through the major retailers: Betta Electrical, Bing Lee, David Jones, Dick Smith, Harvey Norman, JB Hi Fi, Myer, Officeworks, Retravision, The Good Guys, and WOW Sight and Sound.