Users will be able to renew the subscription by getting a packaged product from a retailer, or by renewing over the Internet or via the phone. If a user chooses not to renew, after a grace period of five uses, the software will not create any new documents or edit or save existing documents. A user will be able only to load, view and print files previously created with that copy of Office. New Zealand pricing was not available at press time. It means a constant revenue stream and an end to the constant need to persuade consumers to upgrade their software something that has become increasingly difficult as Microsoft's product line has matured.
Users see few reasons to upgrade if what they have works just fine.
An estimated 60 percent of Office users have a version older than the most current Office 2000 product. It creates a cadre of users immune to the peaks and valleys of the upgrade business. The announced pricing sets the cost to current Office users at a level equivalent to an upgrade every two years. That might not be a very competitive package, given that many users take much longer to buy upgrades. Many current users are still happy to use Office 97.