The first step in Microsoft's goal of a pure subscription-driven software market has been implemented in the form of "FlexGo". "FlexGo" is Microsoft's program that allows down payments on computers, which then function on an hourly rate from that time onwards, working eventually towards paying the machine off. It is designed to be employed in areas with little funding or developing areas, with a reach from Brazil to potentially Russia, China, India and Mexico. The article notates how this may be Microsoft moving towards a new selling model, and that's quite true and quite expected. Likely, this is a bit of a guinea pig for other markets, and we will see this model being applied to many software suites in the future. I wouldn't be surprised to see a monthly or yearly based subscription system for Office or even Windows itself.