What Has Microsoft Got Planned For ‘Windows 365’ Trademark?

Microsoft has been granted a trademark with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for ‘Windows 365’, raising the possibility of a subscription-based licence for the operating system in the future.

The trademark filing, posted on January 29, covers a wide range of potential uses including computer software, telecommunications services, the electronic storage of files and – crucially – Operating Software as a Service (OSaaS).

Windows 365

Many vendors are turning to subscription-based license models as way of spreading the cost of purchasing software and to increase revenue, notably Microsoft itself with Office 365. It is of course the use of the ‘365’ suffix that is generating the prospect of a subscription version of Windows.

However, with Microsoft declaring that Windows 10 will be a free upgrade for users of Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 during the first year, it is unclear when such a model would be implemented, if indeed the company has any plans to implement such a strategy.

The filing could merely be a speculative trademark to use in the future, or more likely, prevent anyone else from using it.

Microsoft had not responded to TechWeekEurope’s requests for comment at the time of publication.

The company has been pushing Office 365 heavily in recent months, adding MDM features, Moodle integration, APIs and unlimited storage as well as launching new applications for iPad and Android tablets.

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