an Office 2010 feature reveals a possible new Microsoft retail pricing strategy.
With Office 2010 you can expect more ‘upselling’ with prompts in Office to buy other parts of the Office line and extras online direct from Microsoft. Check this ‘Step-Up Your Office’ option on Office 2010 menus:
As you can see, this option is separate from checking for product updates. It specifically mentions ‘applications’.
This feature will let Microsoft push lower-priced retail bundles knowing they have the ability to generate more income direct from customers later selling extras directly online. Look out for tempting ‘headline’ prices with a sting in the tail.
‘Step-Up Your Office’ is yet another move towards ‘cutting out the middle-man’ and selling direct.
Microsoft, understandably, would prefer to sell direct at closer to retail price and not have to sell through stores at wholesale prices. To say nothing of the packaging and shipping costs they’ll save.
Doubtless, this move will be combined with the usual platitudes from Redmond about ‘supporting our retail partners’ and retailers complaining about being squeezed out. However everyone involved knows that the days of software sales in boxes are numbered. ‘Step-Up Your Office’ is inevitable.
