14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has now made it even easier for customers to buy the latest iteration of its productivity suite.
The Redmond company partnered with Amazon.com to have the online retail giant offer copies of Office 2010 not only for purchase but also for download.
Previously, the software giant had allowed customers to buy and download Office 2010 only through its own Microsoft Store web outlet.
Now customers can head over to Amazon.com and purchase downloadable copies of the productivity suite.
The following SKUs are available: Microsoft Office Home & Student 2010 - 1 User-3 PC; Microsoft Office Home & Business 2010 - 1 User-2 PC [Download]; and Microsoft Office Professional 2010 - 1 User-2 PC. [Download].
The main advantage of the downloadable copies of Office 2010 is the fact that they’re cheaper than the DVD version. Not by a lot, just a few dollars for each edition, but still.
“Office 2010 is the fastest-selling consumer version of Office in history, with approximately one copy sold worldwide every second.
“Starting today, Microsoft offers consumers another way to purchase Office - via download on Amazon.com through Electronic Software Distribution.
“Customers receive a unique product key, allowing them to download Office 2010 and activate it on their PC within 17 minutes to one hour,” a member of the Office team revealed.
There is one caveat to the deal however. According to Amazon.com “currently, this item is available only to customers located in the United States and who have a U.S. billing address.”
I’ve said this again and again, Microsoft does an excellent job of not acting like a global company at all, but appear too focused on the US, and a few other markets around the world.
The fact that Office 2010 is only available in the US for download through Amazon.com and in just a select list of countries through the Microsoft Store proves that the software giant treats customers unequally.
Office Home and Business 2010 RTM Build 14.0.4760.1000 is available for download here.
Office Home and Student 2010 RTM Build 14.0.4760.1000 is available for download here.
Office Professional 2010 RTM Build 14.0.4760.1000 is available for download here.