14 DAY TRIAL // As it gears up for the general availability of its next iteration of the Office System, Microsoft has unveiled today, January 5th, 2010 the official pricing details for Office 2010 editions. In this regard, Rachel Bondi, general manager, Microsoft Office, revealed that boxed copies of Office 2010 Home and Student would come with a price tag of $149, Office 2010 Home and Business will cost $279, Office 2010 Professional $499 and Office 2010 Professional Academic just $99. The prices enumerated above are examples of what customers will have to pay for a new edition of Office 2010 at retail outlets in the United States.
“Office 2010 will be offered in four versions, to make it easier to choose a version of Office that’s best for you – Office Home and Business, Office Professional, Office Home and Student, and Office Professional Academic. Here’s a chart that outlines the features and pricing for each version,” Bondi explained.
However, some customers will be able to buy Office 2010 while paying less money compared to the estimated retail pricing. This will be possible through the Product Key Cards Microsoft was talking about in October 2009. Microsoft plans to have new Product Key Cards, representing single license cards (no DVD) sold at all major electronic retail outlets. Customers will be able to leverage the Product Key Card in order to activate pre-loaded copies of Office 2010 on new OEM computers. A Product Key Card for Office 2010 Home and Student is just $119, for Office Home and Business just $199 and for Office Professional just $349, Bondi informed.
While being cheaper, the Product Key Card for Office 2010 lets end users activate a single license of the productivity suite. Customers that will pay full retail prices will benefit from the flexibility of deploying Office 2010 on more than just a single computer in their household.
“Office Home and Student boxed product is available in a Family Pack, allowing usage on three PCs in one house. Purchase rights for Office Home and Business, Office Professional, and Office Professional Academic boxed product allow for usage on two of your PCs. The Product Key Card is valid for a single installation of the product,” Bondi explained.
Office 2010 Beta 14.0.4536.1000 is available for download here.