Microsoft removes Office 2019 from the ‘Home Use Program’.

Microsoft ha anunciado que ya no ofrecerá Office 2019 como una opción para su Programa de uso doméstico (HUP), que permite a los empleados de organizaciones elegibles comprar software con descuento para uso personal. En cambio, Microsoft sólo ofrecerá suscripciones a Office 365, que requieren una tarifa mensual o anual, como parte del HUP.

The change was first spotted by Computerworld, which reported that Microsoft quietly updated its HUP FAQ page to reflect the new policy. According to the FAQ, existing HUP customers who purchased Office 2019 through the program will still be able to use it, but will not be able to renew their license or purchase additional licenses. New HUP customers will only be able to choose between Office 365 Home or Office 365 Personal, which cost $69.99 and $48.99 per year, respectively, under HUP.

Microsoft says the move to Office 365 is a benefit for HUP customers, as they will have access to more features and services than Office 2019, such as cloud storage, online collaboration tools and regular updates. However, some users may prefer to have a perpetual license of Office 2019, which requires no ongoing payment or Internet connection for use. In addition, some users may have privacy or security concerns about storing their data in the cloud or using online services.

The move is also seen as a way for Microsoft to increase its subscription revenue and reduce its reliance on one-off software sales. Office 365 has been a major growth engine for Microsoft, reaching more than 200 million monthly active users in October 2019. In contrast, Office 2019 has been largely overshadowed by its cloud-based counterpart and has received less marketing and support from Microsoft.

Microsoft is not the only software company moving from perpetual licensing to subscription models. Adobe, Autodesk and others have also adopted similar strategies in recent years, citing the benefits of recurring revenue, customer retention and innovation. However, some customers may feel they are losing control over their software choices and spending and may seek alternatives that offer more flexibility and affordability.

Microsoft appears to have made changes to its Home Use Program (HUP), which previously allowed employees of eligible organizations to purchase perpetually licensed, discounted Office 2019 packages for use on their home PCs. This program was seen as a way to encourage remote work by allowing employees to use the same Office software they use at their workplace.

However, Microsoft has now removed the option to purchase perpetually licensed Office 2019 packages through HUP. Instead, they are offering consumer subscriptions to Office 365 as part of the program. Office 365 is a subscription-based service that provides access to the latest versions of Office applications while the subscription is active.

This change reflects Microsoft’s broader shift to subscription-based software models, where customers pay regularly for access to the latest features and upgrades, rather than making a one-time purchase of a perpetual license. Microsoft has been promoting its Microsoft 365 subscription, which includes Office 365, as a comprehensive productivity and collaboration solution for both businesses and individuals.

The modification to HUP means that employees who want to use Microsoft Office at home through the program will now receive Office 365 subscriptions instead of the older perpetually licensed Office 2019. This aligns with Microsoft’s ongoing strategy to promote its subscription-based offerings.

• 1: Product availability: Office Professional Plus 2019 and Office Home and Business 2019 are no longer available through HUP.
• 2: Subscription discounts: Employees can now purchase Office 365 Personal and Office 365 Home subscriptions at a 30% discount through HUP. This discount allows employees to access the latest Office applications and services through a subscription model.
• 3: Subscription Extensions: Subscriptions purchased through HUP will extend existing personal and household plans the employee already has. Future renewals will also have the lowest discounted price, even if the employee no longer works for the organization.
• 4: Recurring billing: to maintain the discounted price for future renewals, employees must maintain recurring billing on their subscription.

This move by Microsoft reflects the company’s continued shift toward a subscription-based model for its Office software, emphasizing Office 365 and Microsoft 365 as its preferred offerings. While Microsoft still offers perpetual licensed versions of Office and has announced successors to Office 2019, the focus on recurring subscriptions aligns with its strategy of providing continuous updates and feature enhancements to subscribers.

This change aims to make it easier for employees to access and use Office software on their personal devices with the latest features and enhancements, further promoting the adoption of Office 365 subscriptions.