Subscription offer poses challenges
Seattle PI | at | by Mike
People subscribe to magazines, Internet access, cable service and even mail-order movies. But how many consumers would pay monthly or annual subscription fees to use the type of desktop computer software that they normally buy outright? That's one question raised by Microsoft's decision, announced last week, to start offering a version of its Outlook e-mail program as part of a $60-per-year service through the company's MSN Internet division.
The subscription isn't solely for the use of Outlook. The idea behind the service, called Microsoft Office Outlook Live, is to let people use Outlook to connect to and manage the messages, appointments and contacts in their free MSN Hotmail accounts. The service also includes such features as extra online storage.