Office Professional 2010 Microsoft touts new onlin

Microsoft launched inside the U.S. this week its internet software program retailer and is also touting it as one way for netbook Computer users who don;t have optical drives to additional quickly obtain software program.
The Microsoft Store, which opened for enterprise here on November 13, allows consumers to purchase and download Microsoft hardware and software — games, keyboards, games and gaming consoles, Windows (client and server versions), Office and development tools. It doesn;t stock organization applications like SQL Server,Office Professional 2010, System Center, SharePoint Server, etc., which tend to be products purchased via resellers and/or volume-license agreements.
Microsoft Senior Program Manager Trevin Chow highlighted the appeal of electronic software distribution (ESD) — especially for the growing number of netbook consumers — in a November 13 entry on his personal blog:
“(I)n a world where lighter weight laptops, such as netbooks, are becoming far more common, ESD can make things easier when an optical drive isn’t simply accessible. The first thing I do when I setup a new machine at home, is to run Windows update, and download all the freeware I use such as 7-zip. By extending ESD to Microsoft software program, we’re able to increase convenience across the board for a variety of customers, regardless of whether they are using a speedy desktop gaming Computer, or the latest netbook.”
The Microsoft Store didn;t materialize out of thin air. Microsoft has been operating electronic-distribution sites in the UK, Germany and Korea for some time now.
Microsoft also has been testing the electronic-software-distribution concept for several years via its Windows Marketplace effort. Windows Marketplace is an via the internet shop that relies on Microsoft;s “digital locker” technology to “purchase & download hundreds of software program titles from multiple resellers.” The digital locker stored customers; product keys and purchase information so they could backup and reinstall software from a single location.
I;m not sure whether the Microsoft Shop will replace Windows Marketplace. (Currently,Microsoft Office 2007 Key, the Marketplace site is still live.) I;m also not clear whether the Microsoft Retailer uses the same digital locker technology as Marketplace. I;ve asked Microsoft for additional information on these two questions and will update this post once I have answers.
Update: The short answers: Yes, Marketplace is being replaced by the Microsoft Store. And digital locker is going away, too. See the end of this post for full details.
The new Microsoft Retailer also allows consumers to re-download and reinstall software they;ve purchased until mainstream support for the product ends. “Typically this is 5 years after the product is released,” said Chow in his blog entry.
Would you be willing to decide to buy Microsoft products through an on line shop? Any Windows Marketplace end users or Microsoft Store users overseas have any previous experience with Microsoft ESD to report?
Here are Microsoft;s answers to my questions, which I received at the end of the day Friday via a organization spokesperson:
Does Microsoft plan to do away with Windows Marketplace now that it has launched its own on-line software store within the U.S.?
With the launch of the Microsoft Store, Windows Marketplace will shut down as an ecommerce site. Marketplace will transition from an ecommerce and referral site to a static web page that will refer customers to sites such as Microsoft Retailer,Office 2010 Professional Plus, Windows Vista Compatibility Center,Office 2010 Product Key, and other appropriate destinations.
Does the online shop use the same Digital Locker technology that Windows Marketplace pioneered?
We will keep the Digital Locker service running for at least 9 extra months. In that time,Office 2007 Keygen, we will send out email and web communications to help customers transition away from the Digital Locker.
Is it fair to call the new Internet store the successor to Windows Marketplace, or the next gen of the marketplace?
Yes