Microsoft tests "pay-as-you-go" Software
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Sunday, February 25, 2007 2:30 AMMicrosoft has been quietly testing a new "pay-as-you-go" software rental service in South Africa, Mexico and Romania. The service allows users to pay a monthly fee of around $15 for the use of Office 2003 – according to Microsoft, the program offers customers "the opportunity to obtain genuine Microsoft Office 2003 at a low upfront price, along with the flexibility to pay over time and renew when they choose." Still, Microsoft is being careful to emphasize that the Office 2003 rental program is merely a trial to judge public reaction. According to the spokesperson, Microsoft is currently "reviewing feedback from the trial in order to determine whether to extend it" and said it is "too early to speculate" about exactly what form this will take.
Last year, the software giant started a project called FlexGo, where customers purchased a whole computer preloaded with Windows XP and other Microsoft software for a discount price, then used prepaid cards to continue using the PC. The program met with some success when it was first tried in Brazil: 31% said they would not have made the purchased at all had the program not been available. Microsoft's Software Assurance program, where users pay a yearly fee in order to always get the most up-to-date version of Microsoft products, could also be considered a software rental program. The traditional model of software sales is unlikely to disappear, but I wouldn’t be surprised if more options, including “renting” software, become available internationally. Either way, Microsoft’s rental program may very easily turn out to be a success in countries where, because of poverty contrasting with high software prices, piracy is currently the only option.
All Replies
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Sunday, February 25, 2007 2:59 AMThanks for the information
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Sunday, February 25, 2007 11:27 AMthx m8, you rock.
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Monday, February 26, 2007 8:57 AMUr welcome
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Monday, February 26, 2007 3:14 PMI think its a good concept, but may turn out to be more expensive if renewed many times :)
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Monday, February 26, 2007 4:24 PMU are right Shadow
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Tuesday, March 06, 2007 4:25 PM
I dont know y but i dont hav a good feeling about this concept....
It might not turn out that i am paying more than what is required....
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Tuesday, March 06, 2007 5:57 PMyes m8 its really good for people / companies who wants to try various softwares, they can pay less amount for the first initial use, and then if they really like it they can purchase the entire software :)
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Wednesday, March 07, 2007 6:46 AM
Please friends
Dont post threads with such large Data..
I am not getting any interest to read any stuff..
Try to post some brief and useful posts
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Wednesday, March 07, 2007 3:23 PMread the things that interest you the most :) its not necessary / required to read everything in every thread ;)
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Wednesday, March 07, 2007 3:37 PM
ShadowMan wrote: read the things that interest you the most :) its not necessary / required to read everything in every thread ;) what do mean by this??????
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Wednesday, March 07, 2007 4:26 PMman, i dont know how to explain in more easier english. I myself have bad english :P hope you dont mind.
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Wednesday, March 07, 2007 5:46 PMYou are cent percent right ShodowMan... If a person is not interested in the long thread, the same is free to unread it.
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Wednesday, March 07, 2007 6:06 PMThanks Yogesh for simplifying the meaning of my post now Prateek will not have any problem in understanding it. :)
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Wednesday, March 07, 2007 6:08 PMHa ha ha... I think that ignoring is much better than commenting in threads.
