A few days ago, news broke that Microsoft would be making a free version of Windows 8.1 available to those willing to pay cheaper and not mind seeing advertisements in their operating system.
The news hit the internet after leaks about the so-called “Windows 8.1 with Bing” from people familiar with the theme and they argue that Redmond could use this version to hit the free OS market.
It turns out, however, that Windows 8.1 with Bing could really just be a version developed by Microsoft for low end devices as the company is still trying to bring more affordable devices to the market.
The BAV0.com reports that some leaked documents on Windows 8.1 with Bing reveal that Microsoft wants to provide OEMs with a very affordable operating system with a new version that will come with Bing as the default search engine.
Here is an excerpt from the documents leaked and clearly state the purpose of Windows 8.1 with Bing:
“Windows 8.1 with Bing is a new version of Windows that will help OEMs deploy Windows on low-cost devices and offer the end user services from Microsoft, such as Bing and OneDrive. Windows 8.1 with Bing is similar to other versions of Windows and will be updated, and developed just like any other version of Windows.”
OEMs, on the other hand, will not be allowed to change the search engine and choose another, which could benefit from a special agreement with third parties.
