Microsoft today confirmed that it will give a new version of its OS, "Windows 8.1 with Bing," to tablet makers for free as it tries to boost the market and sales shares of its flagship OS



From Computerworld:

As the name implied, the edition will default to Microsoft's own Bing search service.

The version had been talked up earlier this year as a possible experiment by Microsoft with a free, consumer-grade edition of Windows. At the time, those rumors centered around Windows 8.1 with Bing as a free or very-low-priced upgrade from Windows 7, and were seen as yet another attempt to "go low" to give its OEM (original equipment manufacturer) partners a way to compete in the low price bands dominated by Android tablets.

  Microsoft prays for service revenue with free Windows 8.1 with Bing for tablets