Codestone

Microsoft has lowered the subscription cost of a number of its hosted software offerings including Microsoft Exchange.

The firm announced that it intends to reduce the combined monthly per-user cost of licensing the product - along with its Sharepoint and Office Communications Server offerings - by $5 (£3) to $10, CNet reports. Vice-president of the company Chris Capossela told the news source it has introduced the cut as the new price is one "that customers are really excited to buy our product at". He dismissed suggestions that the move is a response to pressure from rival firms such as Google, stating that the business is "not so much focused on free services or the price Google or others might charge".

Microsoft Exchange offers businesses the ability to manage compliance, administration and deployment costs, as well as protect against information leakages.

A beta version of Exchange 2010 was released earlier this year.