Windows 9 is the next big project prepared by Microsoft for the OS market, with people close to the matter saying that the company might roll it out in early 2015 on PCs, tablets, and smartphones.

Now a new report published by Microsoft watcher Mary Jo Foley, who has a good track on Windows projects, reveals that Windows 9 work is in progress right now and Redmond might not release any other new pack of improvements for Windows 8.1 until the next full OS comes out.

This means that if Windows 9 is projected to debut in April 2015, Windows 8.1 users might actually get only small packs of updates until then, so Windows 8.1 Update 2, possibly called August Update, and Windows 8.1 Update 3 might only bring minor improvements.

The same report claims that Windows 8.1 Update 3 might even be cancelled completely depending on the way development of Windows 9 advances, so if everything goes according to the plan and work is completed in early 2015, no third update for Windows 8.1 could be released.

On the other hand, if the software giant experiences some delays and it needs to push back the Windows 9 launch for a month or two, the company could also debut Windows 8.1 Update 3 in order to keep users running Windows 8.1 fully up-to-date with the latest improvements prepared by the company.

What’s more exciting is that Microsoft might prepare some unexpected promos for Windows users when Windows 9 is finally released.

Word has it that Windows XP, Vista, and 7 might be allowed to upgrade free of charge to Windows 9 in order to boost adoption of the new operating system and thus convince more users to upgrade. This would clearly help not only Microsoft, but also the PC industry, which is still struggling to boost sales despite the release of the Windows 8 modern operating system.

Windows 9 could bring two different betas before its public launch, one of which might be released later this year, most likely in October or November.

Just like it’s the case with all the other reports coming via unofficial channels, do not take all these details for granted, as Microsoft has remained completely tight-lipped on Windows 9 and everything related to the operating system. More information, however, should surface in the coming months, as work on this particular platform advances and the company completes development of new testing builds.