Windows 8 moves 40m licences

Microsoft has revealed that Windows 8 has sold over 40 million licenses just after launch.

Despite a mixed critical reception, the OS is outselling its predecessor Windows 7 in terms of upgrades sold for its time on the market, according to a post on the official Windows blog.

"The journey is just beginning, but I am pleased to announce today that we have sold 40 million Windows 8 licenses so far,” said Tami Reller at the Credit Suisse 2012 Annual Technology Conference

This doesn’t mean that Windows 8 has 40 million users, license sales apply also to computer manufacturers buying licenses in bulk for pre-installed hardware.

Windows 8 also has an added advantage over its predecessor in terms of license sales, as the OS ships on mobile devices as well as PCs.

There is currently no word of the breakdown between sales of the desktop and mobile versions of Windows 8.