#Mac office 2013 beta software#

Office 365 is a subscription product that allows the user access to the software as long as he or she pays. Technically, Microsoft still owns Office retail but buyers have rights to use it forever. Buying software grants the user a perpetual license. For simplicity's sake and so there is no confusion about semantics, I refer to it as multiples.)

#Mac office 2013 beta license#

(Note: Microsoft refers to the suite available with Office 365 as one license for up to five devices, mainly PCs and Macs, in the household. That's where Microsoft gives out the licenses, to subscribers. The marketing is all about the cloud service, which costs $99 per year per household and comes with five Office licenses for Windows or OS X versions. Microsoft really wants consumers choosing Office 365 Home Premium - just look at what greets them today at. Multiple device rights are still available for anyone buying into the subscription model, meaning Office 365, which includes desktop software and cloud services. For many consumers or small businesses, installing Office on two or more PCs for lower price hugely appeals.īut the choice Microsoft takes away from one hand, it offers in another. Looked a differently, Microsoft nearly trebles Office Home and Student 2013 for anyone wanting rights for three PCs (from $149.99 to $419.97). When Microsoft introduced Software Assurance nearly a decade ago, prices increased mainly by taking away choices larger businesses had. License to license: 180 percent increase between Office Home and Student 20 versions and 76 percent for Home and Business. That works out to a hidden, and quite substantial price increase.

#Mac office 2013 beta Pc#

Like the direct download 2010 versions previously available, the 2013 retail replacements come with one PC license. So from a different perspective, the new pricing is substantially less, except Microsoft takes away licenses. The 2010 Home and Student sold for $149.99 (up to three PCs) Home and Business, $249.99 (up to two PCs) and Professional, $499.99 (up to two PCs). The older version was available on DVD and with more generous licensing rights. There are no DVDs, which is another sign the company seeks to dramatically change how consumers and small businesses consume and pay for the suite. However, Microsoft Store prices are for downloads, which, by the way, is in most markets the only way to get Office 2013.

Home and Business: $219. $199.įrom one perspective, the new versions cost about 10 percent to 16 percent more, which says much about what Microsoft execs think of the newer suite's value but also can be interpreted as intentional barrier to sales.

The operation no longer offers Office 2010, but the prices below were valid before today: Let's start with the traditional product - how 2013 versions cost compared to their predecessor - direct from Microsoft Store. If anything, Office 2013 pricing discourages suite sales. Marketing emphasis around Office 365 and pricing for subscriptions and suite reveal how Ballmer hopes to get the Holy Grail. Microsoft pushes real subscriptions instead. There is no volume-licensing plan for consumers, or small businesses. Businesses bought or renewed licensing contracts. By comparison, bookings rose 18 percent, to 'near historical high renewal rates for Office', Chris Suh, general manager of Microsoft investment relations, said during last week's earnings call. During calendar fourth quarter (fiscal 2013 second for Microsoft), Business division consumer revenue declined 2 percent year over year, which is a consistent trend. There is the impact of slowing PC sales, too. About 60 percent of Office revenue comes from annuity contracts, which is money in the bank and commitment that discourages switching to other products - at least through the contract period.īusinesses are on the hook, but consumers swim free, and that's not good for Office, which faces increasing competition from services like Google Apps.

#Mac office 2013 beta plus#

They pay cost per license upfront plus this additional fee annually.

#Mac office 2013 beta full#

Today, most organizations either pay full price or give Microsoft 29 percent of Office's full price over two or three years. Software Assurance raised the cost of upgrades by as much as 107 percent, according to Gartner. In May 2001, Microsoft announced a radically new licensing method that removed off-the-shelf upgrades and pushed businesses to subscription-like model. Ballmer started the subscription Grail quest by putting profits before customers, and pissing off business and tech decision-makers in the process.