On Monday (2) Microsoft released Windows 365, the cloud version of the world’s most popular operating system. The service can be used by anyone interested in accessing a computer running Windows 10 (and in the future Windows 11), but without having to assemble a physical computer.
The announcement, made last month, didn’t make much of a splash, but surprised business users who could run the platform on devices running macOS, Linux or Android. Businesses interested in purchasing a Windows 365 plan need to sign up for a monthly subscription based on the number of users.
While pricing has been kept under wraps, the company has now released the full list individually by configuration. The service has two subscription types: business and enterprise. The former is designed for companies with up to 300 employees, while the latter is aimed at larger organizations, although both use the same resources.
There are twelve cloud computing configurations to choose from, each with a different level of performance, storage space and production focus. The most basic machine has a vCPU, 2GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage for just 25 dollars per user per month. According to the company, the basic setup facilitates the use of lightweight applications by employees in operational activities such as customer service or call centers.
On the other end of the list are the most powerful machines, targeting those that perform heavy tasks, such as software development or video creation. For these folks, the recommended configuration is 8 vCPUs, 32 GB RAM, and 512 GB storage for a minimum of 175 dollars per user per month.
Large companies that join the Enterprise plan receive a discount of R$ 22.80 per machine signed. Analysing just one situation may seem small, but when thousands of employees are counted, the discount is significant.
advantages and disadvantages
Windows 365 Business customers can also benefit from the discount, but must opt-in to the Windows Hybrid Benefit, which is available to customers with devices with a valid Windows 10 Pro license.
Everyone assigned a Windows Hybrid Benefit license must be the primary user of a licensed Windows 10 Pro device. According to Microsoft, maintaining the discounted price requires at least one service access to a licensed Windows 10 Pro device during the contract period.
Interested parties can test up to three different available configurations (only those with 4 vCPUs are approved) for free for 60 days. However, only one user per organization can take the test to prevent indiscriminate use.
Comparing the software giant’s services to others already on the market is a daunting task, as billing systems are different. Unlike other companies that charge extra for services, Microsoft prefers to offer a more comprehensive option where everything is included in the value.
To be more clear, a premium Amazon virtual machine without a dedicated graphics card is now $140.00. However, to have the Office suite and other applications, you have to pay an additional $15.00 per month, and you will still be charged an additional $0.10 per additional GB. If you take into account the value of the IOF and other values in effect when converting USD to Real, the final value is actually the same as what Microsoft offers.
It remains to be seen whether the market is ready to accept the company’s solution, or whether it still prefers to keep in touch with those who have been under contract for the longest time. What do you think? Leave your opinion in the comments.
