More evidence points towards a Windows 10 with Bing SKU

Kareem Anderson

While not significant in North America, Windows 8.1 with Bing was a relative success in other areas. Back when Windows 8.1 was shipped to devices, Microsoft toyed with the option of offering a low-cost alternative to traditional Windows upgrades by offering Windows 8.1 with Bing. Microsoft developed Windows 8.1 with Bing as a way to price compete with Android to entice more OEM’s to ship Windows on tablets and lower end PCs over the alternative.
According to a report from Liliputing, China was a welcoming recipient of Windows 8.1 with Bing, Microsoft saw an increase in Windows-based tablets being shipped in the area. With Windows 10 out on the market, it looks like Microsoft may be going back to the Windows with Bing well one more time in China.
Telcast, a Chinese company that is currently shipping Windows 8.1 tablets, spoke with Liliputing and confirms that its upcoming expansion strategy includes new markets as well as new devices shipping with Windows 10 with Bing. Understandably, Microsoft has been very tight-lipped around Windows 10 news as the company’s new strategy is in a fragile execution stage. The business around OEM licensing and how Microsoft plans to help OEMs sell against free is still a bit murky.

Teclast X98 Air 3G will dual-boot Android 5.0 and Windows 10 with Bing
Teclast X98 Air 3G will dual-boot Android 5.0 and Windows 10 with Bing

Even without an official announcement regarding Windows 10 with Bing, Telcast confirmed via a press release, that Windows 10 with Bing is on its way. Telcast is planning on shipping a dual boot version of the X98 Air 3G, which will run Windows 10 with Bing and Android 5.0. Other mentions of Window 10 with Bing were found in an Intel Compute Stick roadmap obtained by Liliputing.
As for the differences between Windows 10 and Windows 10 with Bing, there are relatively little. Users who grab a Window 10 with Bing device will have roughly the same experiences as those with Windows 10, except that Bing is set as the default search engine. Users of Windows 10 with Bing are free to change the Bing default setting at anytime, however, with lower licensing cost, OEMs are perhaps incentivized to discourage that activity somehow.