Now Microsoft Wants to Be salesforce.com

Anyone hunting for proof that the install-and-manage software model is dying found it this week when Kurt DelBene, president of Microsoft's Office division, told Computerworld that, over time, Office could be sold 100% via subscription.

That would amount to a profound shift in thinking. For years, Mr. Softy has made a good living developing and selling boxed and downloadable versions of the Office suite, with the biggest customers paying up for maintenance contracts that allowed for continual upgrades. Now the company is thinking of selling subscriptions and distributing online in a suite called Office 365.

salesforce.com foresaw the benefits of subscription sales more than a decade ago. The company has enjoyed heady revenue growth since, including a 36% jump over the trailing 12 months.

Would Microsoft realize similar benefits were it to adopt a pure-subscription model? Tim Beyers of Motley Fool Rule Breakers and Motley Fool Supernova addresses this question and more in the video below. Please watch, and then be sure to leave a comment to let us know what you think.

And for more analysis of how its mobile and cloud ambitions will impact the stock, check out our brand-new premium research report, written especially for Microsoft investors like you. Inside our analysts dissects the opportunities and risks facing the company. He's also providing regular updates as key events occur, so make sure to claim a copy of this report now by clicking here.

The article Now Microsoft Wants to Be salesforce.com originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Tim Beyers is a member of the Motley Fool Rule Breakers stock-picking team and the Motley Fool Supernova Odyssey I mission. He owned shares of Salesforce at the time of publication. Check out Tim's web home and portfolio holdings or connect with him on Google+, Tumblr, or Twitter, where he goes by @milehighfool. You can also get his insights delivered directly to your RSS reader.The Motley Fool recommends Salesforce. The Motley Fool owns shares of Microsoft. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 - 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.