Microsoft is planning to use the new OS to update multiple services

Feb 8, 2013 06:20 GMT  ·  By

Microsoft is rumored to be working on Windows Blue, the first major upgrade for Windows 8 that’s expected to hit the shelves sometime this year, but the company is yet to publicly confirm this.

According to Mary Jo Foley of ZDNet, Windows Blue is going to be used by Microsoft as the foundation of a larger update campaign for its products, including Internet Explorer, Hotmail, SkyDrive, Windows Phone and Windows Server.

In addition, some new sources have confirmed that Windows Blue won’t be delivered as a standalone operating system, but only as an update for the existing Windows 8.

Last but not least, it seems that Microsoft is planning to sell the upcoming Windows Blue through the integrated Windows Store, which pretty much makes sense given the fact that the company is struggling to reduce piracy of its operating system.

If all rumors prove to be true, the new Windows Blue should be here by summer and it could be offered either for free or with a very small price tag.