Microsoft dumps Office subscription trial
IT World | at | by Mike
The concept of software delivered as a service took a step backwards today as software giant Microsoft Corp. announced it has abandoned its subscription licensing model for Office XP. Its mechanics proved too confusing for local customers, according to the results of a trial. In May last year, Microsoft started a pilot in Australia, New Zealand and France for Office XP Subscription, a way to license Office on an annual subscription basis. If successful, Microsoft planned to take the model global. However, customers found the "exact mechanics" of this model confusing, according to Microsoft product evaluations. As a result of this feedback from resellers and customers, the pilot has been discontinued.