Microsoft announces general availability and pricing for Windows 365
Pricing for the subscription-based service starts at $20 per user per month and goes up to $162
Microsoft on Monday announced the general availability of Windows 365, the cloud PC service that allows users to access their desktop from anywhere via a web browser.
The software giant unveiled the new subscription-based service last month, saying it would enable users to connect to an always-on cloud PC from anywhere with an internet connection.
It also said that it would release pricing details on the day the service becomes generally available to the public.
As promised, the pricing details for Windows 365 are now public, ranging between US $20 and $162 per user per month, depending on the level of service provided.
In a blog post, Scott Manchester, director of program management at Microsoft, said he was "thrilled" to announce "the general availability of Windows 365 and the resources" that are now available to help users get started with the new cloud service.
"Windows 365 introduces a new way to experience Windows 10 or Windows 11 (when it's generally available later this calendar year) for all types of workers, from interns and contractors to software developers and industrial designers," he added.
According to Microsoft, Cloud PC is specifically designed to fulfil the growing demands of hybrid work environments that enable employees to divide their time between the office and home.
The new service will let users access their devices, including data, apps and settings, from either a personal or business device or a phone, thereby eliminating the need to commute with their PC.
It is designed to provide a complete computing experience through a web browser or a native app on any device that has an active Internet connection. Users can use Windows 365 from a PC, Mac, iPad or any mobile device with a browser, including the Raspberry Pi micro-computers that are starting to become popular in education.
Windows 365 will come in two editions: Business and Enterprise. Business plans are capped at 300 users per organisation, while Enterprise subscribers can have unlimited users. Another different between the two editions is that Business customers can access Windows 365 through the URL windows365.microsoft.com, while Enterprise customers will have it integrated with Microsoft Endpoint Manager.
The company is also offering a 'Windows Hybrid Benefit' which means that users with existing licences can apply for a discount.
The entry-level $20 per user per month Business prices provides a Cloud PC with a single virtual core, 2 GB of RAM, and 64 GB of storage and requires the Windows Hybrid Benefit.
Those without an existing licence will pay $4 more per user per month.
A "Premium" plan with four virtual cores, 16 GB RAM, and 128 GB storage costs $66 per month with the $4 discount.
The most expensive $158 per user per month ($162 without Hybrid Benefit) option provides a Cloud PC with 8 virtual cores, 32 GB of RAM, and 512 GB of storage.
Organisations can choose the storage size of the Cloud PC through an admin panel.