Microsoft shifts licensing plan
Reuters | at | by Mike
Microsoft is about to complete the biggest change in five years in the way that it sells its software to businesses with a system of locked-in upgrades and fixed payments that promises steadier revenue but has also rankled some smaller customers. By Wednesday, the world's No. 1 software maker will have fully implemented the change in the way business customers pay for the right to use the latest versions of its software.
Under the new scheme, software buyers must decide whether to pay regular installments for the right to upgrade to the latest software at any time, or opt out of the plan and pay full price for a full-version software license later. The change, closely watched by Microsoft's large customers, partners, investors and competitors, will mainly affect businesses that buy software in bulk, not consumers buying Microsoft products off the shelf or with a new computer.