Microsoft is reportedly planning to launch a paid subscription service in order to keep users’ Windows 10 machines running properly.
The rumoured ‘Microsoft Managed Desktop’ service would see users enlist Microsoft to configure their computers and then pay a monthly retainer in order to keep them operating smoothly. A ZDnet report from the well-connected Mary Jo Foley suggest Microsoft is close to revealing the plans, which would essentially be a ‘desktop as a service’ operation.
Microsoft’s offering would aim to tackle issues brought up by the twice yearly updates to the Windows 10 operating system, the report claims. Effectively, Microsoft would be asking IT departments to hand over the cash in order to negate issues caused by its own update schedules.
In her report (via Inquirer) Foley writes:
“I’m hearing this Microsoft Managed Desktop is, basically, the Microsoft version of “desktop as a service.” It will provide customers the ability to lease a Windows 10 device that’s automatically provisioned for them and have the operating system kept up-to-date and more for a single monthly fee, my contacts say.”
Windows 10 users in professional settings are often left to deal with the updates upsetting compatibility with other products. If these folks handed over the reins to Microsoft, then there’d be less faffing around with patches and updates as it’d be taken care of remotely. Or so the theory goes.
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At this stage it doesn’t appear as if Microsoft will be rolling out this service to regular consumers. It appears to be targeting enterprise customers managing a large number of Windows 10 devices. The firm hasn’t commented on the report, but it has been largely substantiated by job posting for the Redmond-based firm.
Would you pay Microsoft £10 a month to keep your PC running as smoothly and effectively as possible? Drop us a line with your thoughts @TrustedReviews on Twitter.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
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We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
