Microsoft's New Windows Monetization Methods Could Mean 'Subscriptions'

Posted by timothy on Tuesday December 9, 2014 @05:22AM from the get-this-free-duffel-bag dept.

SmartAboutThings writes Since the first version of Windows, Microsoft has offered the operating system on a initial fee purchase. But under new management, it seems that this strategy could shift into new monetization methods, a subscription-based model being the most probable one. At the recent Credit Suisse Technology Conference from last week, Chief Operating Officer Kevin Turner was speaking (transcript in Microsoft Word format) to investors about the fact that Microsoft is interested in exploring new monetization methods for its Windows line of products. The company might adopt a new pricing model for the upcoming operating system, as it looks to shift away from the one-time initial purchase to an ongoing-revenue basis.

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Not surprising. Also why we're going all OSS by xxxJonBoyxxx · 2014-12-09 05:33 · Score: 1, Troll

>> The company might adopt a new pricing model for the upcoming operating system, as it looks to shift away from the one-time initial purchase to an ongoing-revenue basis.
This certainly follows what we've seen out of the Office and Azure product lines already, what developers are used to with MSDN subscriptions and what many enterprise customers are used to with "true-ups" with large CAL and desktop/laptop counts. However, the coming squeeze on customers locked into Microsoft is why I love the fact that my company has gone all in on a multi-year "if it's not open source (or our own customizations), we don't need it" approach to software.