Windows FREE ... for 9" or smaller display portable devices

[DaveLembke]

When i first saw this I was like it must be dated April 1, 2014 and a April Fools Day gag, but it appears to be real and dated April 2, 2014.

http://www.wired.com/2014/04/free-windows/?mbid=social_fb

[Geek-9pm]

I see that  story has been picked up by many others.
Nice joke.
Well, windows on a phone was always a joke. 
Financial  Times:
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/7eda77e4-ba7d-11e3-a905-00144feabdc0.html

Michael Silver, an analyst at tech research firm Gartner, said the announcements on Wednesday were “definitely steps in the right direction” He added, however: “Developers are still looking at why they should write for Microsoft versus everywhere else. They [Microsoft] certainly have their work cut out for them.”
The announcement that Windows would be free for devices with screen sizes measuring less than 9 inches across was an admission that Microsoft has lost the smartphone battle to Google’s Android, which is free, and Apple’s iOS, which is included on the iPhone.

Do I have t o believe before I can see it 

[camerongray]

I can see where they are coming from in this.  By providing the OS free of charge, they will encourage hardware vendors to release more devices based around Windows phone which will in turn increase the popularity of the whole Windows phone platform.  Microsoft will then use the Windows Store on the phone as their main revenue source.  This is very much what Google has done with Android since the beginning.

[BC_Programmer]

When i first saw this I was like it must be dated April 1, 2014 and a April Fools Day gag, but it appears to be real and dated April 2, 2014.

http://www.wired.com/2014/04/free-windows/?mbid=social_fb

Of course it's dated April 2nd- it was announced at Build during Satya Nadella's keynote. As was a Windows 8.1 update now available on MSDN and the future re-introduction of an old-style start menu to appease the ignorant.