- Microsoft will roll out its Office XP by-subscription model in five more countries, following a successful trial in New Zealand and Australia.
Brazil will be next, with Office XP subscriptions likely to be introduced there by September, according to Mark Linton, Microsoft's small business division product marketing manager in Australia. He did not name the other four countries slated for the subscription-model rollouts of Office XP, but says there will be at least one per continent.
The US will have to wait longer for the model.
"I haven't heard of any plans for the US," Linton says. "It is without doubt our largest market and we want to make sure we have got it right."
Office XP by subscription has been available in New Zealand and Australia since the software suite's launch in May. Microsoft decided to test the subscription model elsewhere before taking on the enormous US market. Having deemed the trial successful, the software giant is now looking to other markets.
Subscription sales are accounting for about 25% of the Office XP's sales volume since the launch, Linton says.
The company is now looking to sustain that momentum by working with its partners to ensure renewals are focused through its channel partners.
Microsoft will also offer a Small Business Edition of its software on a subscription-only basis. The software will cost $A299.