This, according to Microsoft, is its way of saying thank you to the over five million Windows Insiders that helped it with feedback and ideas on the development of Windows 10, which it claims – as usual – is the best Windows yet.
Celebrations will take place in Sydney, Tokyo, Singapore, Beijing, New Delhi, Dubai, Nairobi, Berlin, Johannesburg, Madrid, London, Sao Paolo, and finally New York City, making this a truly global event.
On top of these launch parties, Microsoft has also announced partnerships with a number of mainstream retailers to help people move over to the new standard. Best Buy, Bic Camera, Croma, Curry’s, PC World, Elkjøp, Jarrir, Incredibly Connection, Media Market, Staples, Wal-Mart, Yamada and a number of others will all participate, offering file migration and ghosting help, as well as OS install plans and services.
Microsoft’s own stores, while offering similar service, will also be doing prize giveaways, demo experiences and “more,” though there’s hint what that might be. The company’s Answer Desk will holding in-store workshops to help users become acquainted with what Windows 10 has to offer.
The #UpgradeYourWorld campaign is for more than just those of us pumped by the idea of a new OS and features, though. Microsoft is also partnering with organisations around the world to bring the new OS to underprivileged areas and to help those communities to ‘upgrade’ their ways of life too. To that end, Microsoft has pledged $10 million to a number of well known and younger charities to help their causes, and will be crowd-sourcing nominations for local charities in ten countries worldwide, which will receive additional funding.