Office and Microsoft 365 are getting more expensive
In the past ten years, Office 365 has been installed for over 300 million workstations for a fee. (Photo: Wachiwit / shutterstock)
For the first time since Office 365 launched a decade ago, Microsoft adjusted the pricing of the offering. One reason for this is the constant expansion and the more extensive functionality of the individual products.
Over the past ten years, Office 365 has been installed for a fee for over 300 million workplaces. Microsoft reinvested the money that was raised in this way, among other things, in the Microsoft 365 cloud solution, which was added in 2017. Office 365 started in 2011 with the applications Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook, Lync, Exchange, Project and Infopath. Since then, the range has been expanded to include 24 additional functions.
“The price adjustment reflects the increased functional value of our cloud solution since the market launch. We have steadily expanded the offer for organizations, especially in three key areas: in communication and collaboration, in security and compliance, and in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation “, explains Jared Spataro, Corporate Vice President for Microsoft 365, the new pricing. Prices will be adjusted worldwide on March 1, 2022. Depending on which Microsoft products companies use, the new prices vary between one to four US dollars per user more than before. Educational institutions and private end consumers are initially exempt from the price increase.
Announced new audio conferencing features
In addition, Spataro announced that the offer will also be expanded in the future to include new functions, including new options for audio conferencing. In the aforementioned audio conferences, the existing suites for companies, service, production and authorities are to be supplemented by a telephone component. This means that employees without internet access can dial into team meetings via telephone and can thus also take part in meetings while on the go. The feature is to be published in over 70 countries in a subscription model.
