Microsoft have announced that there will only be a limited number of free upgrades for their new Windows 7operating system. They have announced that there will only be 25 free upgrades of the software.

The idea behind both programs is to offer a free operating system upgrade as an incentive for consumers and small business buyers of new PCs, even as a new Windows operating system enters the market.

Windows 7, the next major OS release from Microsoft after Vista, will be officially available on Oct. 22. The first beta of the OS was released in February and a Release Candidate (RC) followed in May. The beta version will expire next week, while the RC will remain as a free download until Aug. 15.