Windows 7 Pro Microsoft introduces a new freebie

Slowly but certainly, Microsoft is looking to develop its consumer base by giving absent entry-level SKUs of its items. The newest freebie: Office Accounting Express 2007, the new, low-end of its not-so-popular small-business accounting software line. Microsoft created the Express version of its small-business accounting product out there for cost-free download,Windows 7 32bit, starting on October thirty, through a free of charge, “no-strings-attached” license, according to the company. The Workplace Accounting Express SKU is interesting for a couple of reasons. First — although Microsoft officials (obviously) aren’t portraying the positioning of the item this way — the Workplace Accounting desktop software is a loss leader for Microsoft, with potential revenues coming in from the add-ons that Microsoft is hoping customers will purchase on a subscription basis. Among the paid, add-on services for the cost-free Express product: • ADP Payroll: $169 per year. Electronic filing readily available for an additional $60 per year. ADP Total Payroll Service: “Customized price as specific pricing depends around the number of employees,Windows 7 Key, frequency of payroll and additional services requested." • Credit card processing through Chase Paymentech: $9.95 per month. • PayPal payment services: CCP Plan for $9.95 per month,Office 2010 Pro Plus Key, plus $20 per month in bank-processing charges. PayPal Payments Pro credit card processing is available for a monthly fee of $20. • Marketplace services: Up to 80 cost-free listings/downloads per month for Basic; up to 200 listings/downloads per month for $9.95; each additional listing/download after the 200th costs an additional .05 cents. • Equifax credit-profile service: Pay per use. Small business credit reports on your own organization, from $4.95 and up. Credit report with score: from $39.95 and up. The Express SKU also integrates directly with a number of other, paid Microsoft goods, including Microsoft Workplace, Dynamics Point of Sale and the forthcoming Office Online. The Office Express 2007 product also sports the same upgrade scheme as Vista will with the Windows Anytime Upgrade capability. Microsoft is including both the Express and the Professional versions of the Office Accounting product on the same disk. By purchasing an upgrade key from Microsoft or a reseller partner, users will be able to move relatively seamlessly to the $149,Microsoft Office 2010 Home And Student, more feature-rich version of Workplace Accounting Professional. (Office Accounting Professional 2007 is the successor to Workplace Modest Company Accounting 2006.) As explained in Microsoft’s fact sheet, “starting Oct. 30, 2006, Office Accounting Express 2007 can be converted to a trial edition of Office Accounting Professional 2007. In early 2007, Office Accounting Professional 2007 will be accessible for an estimated retail price (ERP) of $149 for a full version or $99 (ERP) for a edition upgrade for Microsoft Modest Company Accounting 2006 users.” Office Accounting Express 2007 is the most recent member of a growing family of Microsoft items aimed at nonprofessional/home programmers and users. Microsoft created Visual Studio Express available for totally free in April 2006. The company also offers a free of charge,Windows 7 Pro, entry-level version of SQL Server, known as SQL Server Express. Microsoft also has created offered for download a new Workplace Accounting software program developer kit (SDK) and a utility that facilitates transaction transfers from Intuit’s Quickbooks to Workplace Accounting. Wonder what other software program the Redmondians will offer for free of charge next? Maybe they should have considered making Windows Vista Home Basic free, given the growing sentiment among partners and company watchers that it’s worth next-to-nothing ….