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Office sold by subscription
Microsoft's latest wizard wheeze
Microsoft has started testing an Office package based on subscriptions, rather than making punters pay for the software up front.
A new test program code-named "Albany" allows customers to download and install Office 2007 and then receive updates for a subscription instead of a more traditional one-time license fee. They will also get Windows Live OneCare, a Web-based security software, and online applications including Windows Live Mail and Office Live Workspace.
So far, Microsoft did not disclose how it plans to set the pricing for "Albany" or when it would be widely available. The move comes as Office software gets more pricey and faces stiffer competition from Google, and Open Office packages.