Microsoft has said it’s long-awaited Windows 10 Anniversary Update will go out on August 2. It’s one of the biggest updates to Windows 10 so far, with new features aimed about both enterprises and consumers.

The August 2 arrival date is a pretty unusual one though, given that Microsoft previously said it’s free upgrade to Windows 10 offer to users of Windows 7 and 8 expires just a few days before on July 29, which is the operating system’s true anniversary. Microsoft has given no indication that it plans to extend its free upgrade offer, though the Windows 10 Anniversary Update will be free to current Windows 10 users.

The new version will bring with it some important enterprise-oriented updates on the security side, including advanced threat protection in Windows Defender. There’s also a new Windows Information Protection Service to help ensure that enterprise data remains secure.

The most exciting new features are those aimed at consumers, however. For example, Cortana will be updated so it can now answer queries without users needing to login first. Cortana will also be able to do things like recall your frequent flier number, while a new feature called Windows Ink lets you jot down notes, draw sketches, and create sticky notes for different websites and documents. Also, Microsoft’s Edge browser has been updated with support for a limited number of extensions, and is now more energy efficient. Check out this post by SiliconANGLE’s Collen Kriel for more on what to expect in the Windows 10 Anniversary Update.

What with Microsoft now delivering Windows 10 “as a Service”, the update will be free to download for all current Windows 10 users.

In a separate announcement, Microsoft said there are now more than 350 million users in the world who’re running Windows 10, an increase of 50 million since last May. The company added that 96 percent of its major enterprise customers are now either piloting or deploying Windows 10. Of course, Microsoft still has a long way to go if it’s to hit its widely publicized target of one billion users within two years. As such, don’t be surprised to see more updates and potentially even more upgrade offers emerge in the coming months as Microsoft strives to reach that target.

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