Will these servicing changes also apply to Windows 10? If not, I think Microsoft is taking a big risk, as businesses which typically don’t want multiple new features delivered willy-nilly may dig in their heels and hold off moving to Windows 11 as long as possible (if ever).
How will these changes, if and when they happen, affect the period of time for which Microsoft will offer support for various Windows releases? I’m assuming the Moment feature drops will not trigger a new support countdown clock, as this didn’t happen with the February feature drop this year. Will Microsoft actually be extending the Windows support windows, so they last up to three years, timed with new “major” releases"? Many IT folks would welcome that if it were the case.
Will Microsoft still offer its yearly Windows feature updates for Windows 10 and 11? This year, Windows 11 22H2 is still on the calendar for some time this fall, and we believe Windows 10 22H2 will show up around the same time, even though officials have said next-to-nothing about Windows 10’s update schedule (beyond the fact that support for Windows 10 ends in October 2025.) From Windows Central’s report, it sounds like the annual feature update schedule, announced just a year ago, may already be a thing of the past.
Vendors wanting to maintain secrecy around new hardware releases is understandable. But when the majority of a company’s customers are business users, similar secrecy – especially around software and servicing – is far less so. Businesses need predictability, and over the past year, predictability has been sorely lacking in the Windows space. Many in the Windows team seem to want Windows on PCs to move to the kind of feature update schedule that is accepted on phones and tablets. But this ignores the fact that businesses – the biggest Windows PC constituency – are not keen on this. I will update this post if and when I hear back from Microsoft on the reported Windows servicing changes. I’m not holding my breath for anything beyond “we have nothing to share,” but stay tuned. Update: “Microsoft has nothing to share regarding this speculation. Check out the February Windows Experience blog from Panos for info on Windows’ update cadence,” a spokesperson said.
