Russia Next In Line For Cheap Windows

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September 27, 2004 (1:23 PM EDT)

By TechWeb Technology News

Microsoft on Monday added Russia to the list of the countries that will see a budget-priced version of Windows XP, what the Redmond, Wash.-based developer dubs "Starter Edition."

Already slated to show up in Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia next month, Starter Edition is part of Microsoft's strategy to combat both rampant piracy and the encroachment of open-source operating systems such as Linux.

Russia's Starter Edition will be available pre-installed on authorized systems in early 2005, said Microsoft.

Although Microsoft has been close-mouthed about costs for Starter Edition compared to the full-bore Windows XP, sources put the price of the former at $36, about half what Windows XP runs OEMs.

Last month, when Microsoft said that it had five countries in its Starter Edition sites but had only announced three, analysts speculated that the final two would come from the quartet of Brazil, China, India, Russia, and India.

Microsoft also said Monday that it would announce the fifth Starter Edition nation in the coming weeks.