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Dell Now Selling Microsoft Software via Download

Dell Computer Corp. announced late last week that it is the first company aside from Microsoft to offer Microsoft software for sale via direct download.

U.S.-based customers visiting Dell's Download Store can purchase and download the Office suites or individual Office applications, including Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint and Visio.

A quick check shows that pricing on Dell's site ranges from slightly to substantially less than the pricing on Microsoft's own online store. For example, Store.Microsoft.com is offering the Office Home and Student 2007 Suite for $149.95; on Dell's site, it's $80.99. Microsoft Office Standard sells for $399.95 on Microsoft's site; Dell is offering it for $352.99.

"With everyday savings plus on-demand access, the Dell Download Store addresses our customers' two main concerns: price and immediacy," Geoff Surkamer, general manager, Dell Global Digital Distribution, commented in a prepared statement.

According to Dell, the company's online store, which debuted in January of this year, averages approximately 10,000 visitors every week. Other software vendors offering their wares through Dell's online store include CA, McAfee, AVG and Intuit.

About the Author

Becky Nagel serves as vice president of AI for 1105 Media specializing in developing media, events and training for companies around AI and generative AI technology. She also regularly writes and reports on AI news, and is the founding editor of PureAI.com. She's the author of "ChatGPT Prompt 101 Guide for Business Users" and other popular AI resources with a real-world business perspective. She regularly speaks, writes and develops content around AI, generative AI and other business tech. She has a background in Web technology and B2B enterprise technology journalism.

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