Original URL: http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2006/07/31/office_betas_cost/
Microsoft to charge for Office betas
Actually, it's a 'cost recovery measure'
Posted in Software & Security, 31st July 2006 10:18 GMT
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Microsoft is to start charging $1.50 for beta versions of Office 2007. From 2 August anyone wanting to download the software will have to pay the small fee.
The company claims this is the result of the success of the trial - 3m people have downloaded the software - so Microsoft needs to charge to cover server costs.
A statement sent to the Reg reads: "We are thrilled with the incredible excitement around the upcoming 2007 Microsoft Office system as evident by more than 3m people using the beta 2 since its release two months ago.
"Having exceeded our beta 2 participation goals by 500 per cent, we have had to make the business decision to implement a cost recovery measure for future downloads of beta 2 beginning 2 August, 2006."
Customers can experience the 2007 Microsoft Office system without having to download the product by participating in the online test drive, which is available here (http://www.microsoft.com/office/preview/beta/testdrive.mspx).
Microsoft Australia is closing its Office 2007 download service completely - more from ZDNet here (http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/software/soa/Microsoft_closes_Office_beta_service_for_Australians/0,2000061733,39265127,00.htm). ®