Annual Payment Plan For Software

Microsoft announces pay for use software

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Microsoft Office 10 Subscription Service

I'm sorry to be late reporting the latest news about Microsoft's Office 10, the upgrade to Office 2000.

At last week's Comdex, Microsoft announced a new subscription offering for Office 10 which will provide customers, according to Microsoft's press release, "an exciting new opportunity to subscribe to the world's leading desktop productivity suite for an annual fee."

Home and business users can reduce the initial purchase cost of Office 10 by agreeing to pay an annual subscription fee. It's not perfectly clear in the press release, but I think Microsoft will also offer the Office 10 suite as a direct retail purchase, in addition to the subscription purchase. Maybe it will be like a mortgage. The house may sell for a fixed price, but after we're done with the interest and additional fees, the total purchase cost is more than double the selling price.

Microsoft says "With the release of 'Office 10,' we're taking a significant step toward our vision of an Office.NET subscription service."

Microsoft reports the subscription software will be the same as the nonsubscription software that's available at retail, except it must be renewed annually.

At first I was frustrated that subscription software may be another arrogant trick by the Microsoft marketing mavens. But, after considering it, I think subscription software may be a good idea. Especially for cash-strapped users who may only need a year or two's use from the product.

Let's wait and see what the Microsoft license says. I'll report more when I've got more to report.

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updated November 20, 2000
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