The Kinect for Windows commercial license and purchasable hardware is now available, according to Microsoft.

The Kinect sensors and accessories can be purchased directly online, and feature a one-year warranty and access to ongoing software updates.

The Kinect for Windows sensor offers speech and audio capabilities with the latest Microsoft Speech components, the ability to support up to four Kinect devices on a single PC, "near mode" which sees objects as close as 400 millimetres in front of the sensor, and improved skeletal tracking.

Craig Eisler, General Manager Kinect for Windows states: "We are planning on releasing updates to our SDK and runtime 2-3 times per year – in fact, the team is already hard at work on the next release.

"We are continuing to invest in programs like our Testing and Adoption Program and the Kinect Accelerator, and will work to create new programs in the future to help support our developer and partner ecosystem."

We've mirrored the Windows SDK locally at GP Downloads (230MB).