Windows 10 to Ship in Seven Editions: Home, Pro, Mobile, Education, Enterprise, IoT Core, Mobile Enterprise

Microsoft will be releasing Windows 10, its forthcoming operating system for the desktop, mobile, Xbox, and IoT platforms this summer (July-August) in 190 countries in 111 languages. In an attempt to sort out the confusion, the company is today sharing details about different versions of Windows 10.

On a blog post, the company announces that Windows 10 will be available in seven editions: Windows 10 Home, Windows 10 Mobile, Windows 10 Pro, Windows 10 Education, Windows 10 Enterprise, Windows 10 IoT Core, and Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise based on the needs of different customers.
“We designed Windows 10 to deliver a more personal computing experience across a range of devices. An experience optimized for each device type, but familiar to all. Windows 10 will power an incredibly broad range of devices – everything from PCs, tablets, phones, Xbox One, Microsoft HoloLens and Surface Hub,” said the company. “No matter which Windows 10 device our customers use, the experience will feel comfortable, and there will be a single, universal Windows Store where they can find, try and buy Universal Windows apps.”
Different editions are designed for different customers. Windows 10 Home, for instance, is the consumer-focused desktop edition. It will support desktop, as well as tablets and 2-in-1 devices. Among the services, it will have Microsoft’s personal assistant service Cortana, the new browser Microsoft Edge, Continuum tablet mode for touch-capable devices, and Windows Hello, a face-recognition feature. Besides, it will also pack in a range of universal Windows app including Photos, Maps, Mail, Calendar, Music, and Video, and offer Xbox gaming experience.
Windows 10 Mobile will power smartphones and small tablets. It will support the new universal apps that are included in Windows 10 Home in addition to the touch-optimized version of Office. Some mobile devices will be able to capitalize on the continuum for phones feature.


Windows 10 Pro, as the name suggests, is for businesses that are using PCs, tablets, and 2-in-1s. It will have all the features of Windows 10 Home in addition to a number of other features. For instance, it will allow users to manage devices and apps, and protect business data. It will also support remote access to a computer, and a range of other tools to foster mobile productivity.
One of the most interesting features in Windows 10 Pro is Windows Update for Business, which as the company had recently noted, will provide users with a quicker access to security updates while also reducing management costs.
Windows 10 Enterprise is meant for medium and large-sized organizations. The company promises to offer protection against modern security threats targeted at devices, identities, among other things. It will be available to Microsoft’s Volume Licensing customers who will be able to decide at what pace they want to update their system.
Windows 10 Education is aimed at students, teachers, school management and administrators. The build will be available through academic Volume Licensing, and will allow eligible users to upgrade from Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro to Windows 10 Education edition.
Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise is aimed at mobile business customers. The company says that this edition will be made available to Volume Licensing customers. It will let businesses grab the latest update as soon as they are available.
Windows 10 IoT is for small devices such as Raspberry Pi 2. It will be interesting to see how much traction this edition of Windows receives. We have already started to see an increasing number of credit card-sized computers crop up on crowdfunding platforms indicating a growing demand for these tiny computers.
Microsoft still doesn’t have a specific date in mind for the launch of Windows 10. The mobile version — Windows 10 Mobile won’t be releasing to customers this year. Windows 10 will be available for free to Windows 7 and Windows 8 (and 8.1) users with legit licence for free for the first year. The company is reportedly planning to charge users on a subscription model afterward.