It’s no secret that the big companies like trapping you into their ecosystem. For instance, Google makes sure that its online services are so easy to use together that you find it hard to step out of the Google Sphere. Write a report on Google Docs, keep it stored in Google Drive and share it with contacts via Gmail. Likewise, Amazon is always trying to ensure those who buy their hardware gets entwined in the Amazon ecosystem. In fact, this ecosystem-dependence is presumed to be one of the reasons why the Fire Phone sold so poorly. But in spite of all their trappings the companies rarely offer users a monetary incentive to go all-in with them. That’s exactly what Microsoft seem to be offering at the moment.
Yes, if you are willing to go all out with Microsoft for the next 12 months then you could bag yourself a bargain. Microsoft are offering what they call the “Work and Play Bundle” and all-in-all its quite a good deal. The bundle will cost you $199.99 for 12 months, but for that fee you will get full unlimited access to the Microsoft Office Home. Thrown into the bundle you will also get a years worth of Xbox Live Gold membership. Thrown in on top, you also get a year’s Xbox Music Pass, which offers free music streaming ad-free. But that’s not all. You also get a years free Skype Unlimited. Which basically means free calls (Worldwide) and WiFi (over 2 million hotspots). That’s a whopping four premium Microsoft subscription services for $200. Now although $200 might sound a lot. If you were to purchase them all separately you are looking much closer to $450 for the four.
That is of course IF you bought them all. There is the rub. If you wanted to go all out with Microsoft then this is a great price with the four services less than half their normal combined price. However, if you are only a one subscription user than it might not be worth it. Although, if you are a two subscription Microsoft user then you certainly should be considering this deal. For instance, Microsoft Office Home is currently available for $99.99 per year. On top of that, Xbox Music pass will set you back $9.99 a month ($120 a year). So for less than the price of those two subscriptions alone you could also benefit from a years Skype unlimited and Xbox Live Gold. Not bad. So what do you think? Will you be taking advantage of the offer?