14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is gearing up to kill off Encarta. By the end of 2009 the Redmond company plans to do away with both the MSN Encarta Web sites as well as the actual software products released under the Encarta brand umbrella. More specifically, MSN Encarta Web site will be discontinued on October 31, 2009, with only the Japanese flavor of the web properties surviving until December 31. Come June 2009, the Redmond company will also stop selling Microsoft Student and Encarta Premium boxed versions of the software. The software giant is blaming the death of Encarta on a shift in the manner in which users consume encyclopedic content.
“Encarta has been a popular product around the world for many years. However, the category of traditional encyclopedias and reference material has changed. People today seek and consume information in considerably different ways than in years past. As part of Microsoft’s goal to deliver the most effective and engaging resources for today’s consumer, it has made the decision to exit the Encarta business,” the Redmond company stated, adding that it would use the lessons learned with Encarta in its future investments in technology.
Microsoft remains committed to updating the current versions of Encarta for users worldwide until no later than October 2009 and December 2009, for Japan, even though sales will be discontinued in mid-2009. The company also indicated that MSN Encarta Premium monthly and annual subscribers were right in line for receiving a refund provided their subscription was still active as of April 30, 2009.
No word yet from the software giant on whether it plans to kill additional educational software products. “We’re not making any other announcements at this time. By changing our product offerings and both adding and discontinuing products, Microsoft is looks for ways to deliver the most effective technology offerings to help make teaching and learning more engaging and relevant in the 21st century,” the company added.