More news from Microsoft, this one on a software-as-service business model.
From ArsTechnica:
Microsoft has released more details about its new software subscription bundle that went into testing in mid-April. The bundle has been officially dubbed Microsoft Equipt and will be made available in mid-July 2008 at nearly 700 Circuit City stores in the US. Equipt licenses will cost $70 per year and will include Windows Live OneCare, Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007, Microsoft Office Live Workspace, and Windows Live tools. [From Microsoft Equipt: 3 Office, OneCare licenses for $70/year]
Here's a link to this morning's press release.
Though it hasn't gathered many headlines yet, this is an important departure for Microsoft. As I mentioned briefly last week, I truly believe that cloud computing is the future and represents the death knell for traditional self-owned IT infrastructure. Here, Microsoft is offering a valuable software product -- Office -- as part of the service. Also included is managed security, which can make a huge difference in the home computing market where users seldom worry about the integrity of their systems.
With all of the focus on Microsoft's more visible products such as Vista, XBox, and Zune, it's easy to miss the potentially game-changing offerings that are creeping into their business model.
If this trial goes well, perhaps we'll see a small business bundle that also includes Outlook and an Exchange-like expansion of Office Live Small Business. That would be a winner.
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