Microsoft rakes in the cash while the raking is good

“Microsoft’s new enterprise licensing program may be unpopular among customers, but the bean counters love it. The new plan was a significant contributor to the company’s impressive quarterly revenue and earnings reported Thursday,” writes InternetWeek. “Many Microsoft customers were happier with the old licensing plan, saying the new one is costing them more money, and confusing to boot. Some enterprise customers signed up reluctantly, only after searching for alternatives and finding there were none. Users and industry analysts warn that Microsoft may have bought long-term profit and revenue growth at a steep cost. When current licenses expire in two or three years, as alternatives to Microsoft emerge, customers will come to the bargaining table prepared to force Microsoft into some tough deals, or the customers will turn to competitive software, some critics contend.” Read the full story here.