Microsoft suspends free trial of Windows 365 after 'unbelievable' response
Interested users can buy a plan if they want to try the service, says Microsoft
Just two days after announcing the general availability of its Windows 365 Cloud PC service, Microsoft has put a hold on its free trials due to 'unbelievable' demand.
The company says it has reached the capacity for Windows 365 trials and needs to pause the free trial programme until it provisions more capacity to support them.
In the meantime, people can buy a plan if they want to try the service. Interested parties are also being invited to sign up for the trial so that they can be notified when more capacity becomes available.
Microsoft announced the general availability and pricing of Windows 365 service on 2 August.
"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," Scott Manchester, director of programme management for Windows 365, said while announcing the general availability.
With Windows 365, a company doesn't need to provide a corporate-issued laptop to workers. Instead, employees can gain access to their company's software simply by logging into windows365.microsoft.com.
"Windows 365 only requires a device that includes the HTML5 browser and a DSL connection or a wireless internet connection capable of streaming a video," Microsoft says in a FAQ page.
Windows 365 offers a wide range of RAM, CPU, and storage options to users and provides 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.
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.
Microsoft is currently offering Windows 365 to enterprises and organisations, and not individual customers. It comes in two editions: Business and Enterprise.
Business plans are capped at 300 users per organisation, while Enterprise subscribers can have unlimited users. Another difference 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.