Businesses to see Windows 7 first

NEW ORLEANS, July 13 (UPI) -- U.S. software giant Microsoft Corp. said Monday it would release its new operating system to business clients ahead of the general public.

The new operating system, called Windows 7, would be made available for the business community Sept. 7, the company said.

Microsoft Senior Vice President of Windows Bill Veghte made the announcement at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference in New Orleans, PC World reported.

The company expects to ship 77 million copies of the new system by the end of 2010.

Veghte predicted 59 percent of businesses with older systems would be using Windows 7 within three years.

Many users avoided upgrades to Windows Vista and are using XP, an operating system now 8 years old. However, a ScriptLogic survey of businesses found nearly 60 percent of IT administrators had no current plans to switch to Windows 7, the report said.