“The Redmond, Wash., based software giant has been clandestinely working on a new service, code-named “Albany,” which the company publicly acknowledged Friday.”
Since competition becomes stronger, as consumer-focused word processing and spreadsheet programs are obtainable more easily and less expensive from non-Microsoft sources like Google and Apple, Microsoft is working to ensure that it too has lower-priced, higher-value “essential software” solutions for consumers.
Microsoft Corp. on Friday revealed plans to release a subscription-based set of low-end desktop applications, code-named “Albany,” and that the software has been sent for testing in a private beta.
“‘Albany’ is the codename for the latest all-in-one subscription service of essential software and services consumers told us were most important to them,” said Product Manager Bryson Gordon.”
Microsoft wishes to fine-tune with the consumers’ requirements, and that is the purpose of project “Albany” that has been launched in a private beta version and is expected to be officially launched sometime this year, the company unveiled on Friday on its website.
“Albany will link up a number of popular productivity and security programs and make them available through a subscription service.”
Subscribers will receive Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007, with the latest versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote, Windows Live OneCare, Windows Live Mail, Messenger and Photo Gallery. The project also incorporates the Microsoft Office Live Workspace connector on the Microsoft Office toolbar, where users will be able to save documents online and share them with others.
“We have managed to combine the productivity tools people require to organize their lives, security to help keep their personal information safe and online services that make it easy for them to keep in touch with friends and family, and folded them all into a single service that also ensures the user’s PC is running the latest security and productivity software,” Gordon explained.
Gordon said “Albany” came as a response to consumers’ needs and wishes: “the overwhelming response was that they primarily want productivity and security software.”
Albany is planned to be consumer-friendly right from the start — hardly a few simple clicks will install a whole package of applications. The downloadable software will as well save consumers the annoyance of installing new versions each time they become available, Gordon said. Rather, updates to the software will be automatic.
Sources said last month that Microsoft was building up an application as a means of competing with Google Apps and other free or low-cost online programs.
The new programs will be delivered in a subscription service, but Microsoft offered no details as to cost or terms other than the fact that Albany will cover up to three PCs, and once a customer stops subscribing, they lose access to the applications — though their data files remain theirs to keep.
Gordon added that Albany is not the next version of Microsoft Office. When the Albany programs are updated, subscribers will become eligible to automatic updates at no extra cost, and the concept of always having the most-up-to-date solution is one Microsoft clearly hopes will resonate with consumers.
“At the same time, we are definitely not straying from our traditional software sales model. There will always be a significant number of users for whom purchasing a perpetual license to the latest version of Office is still the best choice,” Gordon said.