Wondering: does Microsoft need a value menu?
Posted in computers, technology
Microsoft Corporation or often just MS, is an American multinational computer technology corporation with 79,000 employees in 102 countries and global annual revenue of US $51.12 billion as of 2007.But now we wondering if Microsoft need a value menu… Microsoft may be looking at ways to protect the Home and Student version of Office, a product that has been a huge seller at retail since its introduction as the Student and Teacher version back with Office XP in 2001.
Since Office Live Workspace is already free, the main addition to the Office box would be Windows Live OneCare, Microsoft’s consumer antivirus product. Although it carries a $50 list price, it can often be had for far less either at retail stores or online. How much this would add to the product’s appeal is unclear, though antivirus is also one of the biggest areas where consumers shell out for boxed software.
Microsoft has confirmed that it sent out invitations seeking testers for Albany, but has declined to offer any details about the product.
The testing of Albany is not occurring in a vacuum.
Microsoft may, however, now be rethinking whether it makes sense to have two separate productivity suites for the home at all.
Works has historically been a separate product from Office, although Microsoft has at times brought the two products closer together. One bundle of the product, known as the Works Suite, includes an older version of Word as part of the product, along with Works’ separate tools for things like databases and spreadsheets. Microsoft has not updated Works substantially in some time, with the product overdue for either upgrade or replacement with Office Home and Student, were Microsoft to go that route.
Any decision on the future of Works would have to look beyond the retail channel, however. Although Office Home and Student is the big seller on store shelves, Microsoft has historically used Works as a product that computer makers can pre-install on new machines, though such deals generate only a couple of dollars for Microsoft. These days, new PCs also come with a trial version of Office. With direct sellers like Dell, Microsoft also has an option called Office Basic that includes Word, Excel, and Outlook.