Microsoft Trademarks "Windows 365"

Posted by samzenpus on Monday February 9, 2015 @04:06AM from the one-easy-payment dept.

jones_supa writes The talks about a subscription-based Windows have begun again. With Windows 10 those ideas did not materialize in the way that many had speculated. Even though Microsoft has not fully detailed its Windows 10 pricing strategy, it is not believed that Microsoft is targeting an annual subscription charge for Windows at this time. However, it turns out that Microsoft has recently filed for a trademark for Windows 365, which adds a bit of fuel to the subscription based version of Windows. As of right now, Microsoft has only claimed this branding right, but as for what they will do with it, only time will tell. Deep inside the company, the idea is clearly still bubbling there.

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Re:Hard To Imagine... by CrackerJackz · 2015-02-09 04:43 · Score: 5, Insightful

I can picture the situation quite clearly: "I'm very sorry Mr. Surface Pro 5 Owner, but with the current release cycle your hardware will no longer be supported at the end of this year... and we do not offer subscriptions for legacy hardware." At least with Windows XP, Mac OS 10.5.x, etc "sunsetted" OSs can continue to be used (albeit with increased security risk) perpetually. Will Microsoft offer this same policy with 365 users as feature and requirements outstrip aging hardware? I think not.