Dive Brief:

• Microsoft may issue its next Windows 10 upgrade in March 2017, according to ComputerWorld, citing “clues uncovered by digital detectives.”

• The date was determined by analyzing the labels Microsoft uses internally on its Windows 10 versions.

• Windows 10 is growing fast, though Windows 7 is still the most popular desktop software worldwide, with a share close to 40%. Windows 10 currently has a 22% share.

Dive Insight:

Microsoft also pledged to support each upgrade for a minimum of 18 months, revising its original plan to only support security updates to enterprise customers until its second replacement appeared.

Windows 10 has had the most rapid launch ever of a Windows OS and continues to grow steadily, despite the fact that Microsoft ended the free upgrade in July. In some markets, such as Scandinavia, Windows 10 has overtaken Windows 7. Both Denmark and Norway have seen big jumps in Windows 10 usage in the last few months.

In August, a survey of IT professionals by Adaptiva found 64% of respondents expect to migrate to Windows 10 within the next year. Companies ranked the new security features of Windows 10 as a key driver for migration.