Microsoft announced that the flagship operating system, Windows 8.1, will be available for free, but will be limited to certain devices only. These could include all devices that sport a 9-inch display screen or lower, including tablets and phones, and all devices that are IoT (Internet of Things) type.
Arstechnica reports, Terry Myerson, VP of Microsoft, announced that Windows 8.1 would be free for IoT devices, when it will be available.
Availability of the IoT version is not yet announced, nor were any additional specific details on what an IoT version of Windows might look like or how it might differ from a desktop or mobile version.
However, though Myerson announced that Windows would be free on phones and tablets below the 9-inch display category, he didn't mention the version or type of Windows that would be covered under this new policy. Would it be Windows 8.1, Windows 8.1 RT, or both, there is no proper mention. There's also no information about when the IoT version of Windows would be released.
