Microsoft Hit Sage With Launch Of Free Accounting Software

Fri, 16 Nov 2007

Microsoft has finally launched its small accounting package in a move that analysts say could threaten Sage's dominant market position.

The Office Accounting 2008 package is set to target Sage's 700,000 customer base in what has been labelled as one of the biggest challenges to the lucrative UK small business accounting software market in recent years.

Microsoft is offering a downloadable basic version of its Office Accounting 2008 software for free and a free two-month trial of the enhanced version, which is on sale for £149.95.

UK accountants, key allies in the sale of accountancy software, are being courted with free versions of the new software .

Office Accounting 2008 boasts a range of online services, which could lead to more interactive movement of data between accountants and their clients .

Rajat Taneja, general manager at Microsoft, said the company had set "conservative" sales targets for the product, which he said had been downloaded two million times in two years in the US, which includes a substantial number of UK downloads over that period.

"We are hoping to grow the UK market considerably, to bring in the non-accountant user to a structured accounting product. We believe that is by far the largest segment of the market," he said.

"We want accountants to recommend it. That community's important," Taneja added.

Paul Stobart, Sage’s UK and Ireland chief executive, added: "We welcome the competition but believe we have a unique and compelling offering for UK businesses, including start-up and small businesses, with whom we have worked for over 25 years."

"Our business management software is more widely used, and is recommended by more businesses and accountants than any other."
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