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Microsoft is discontinuing its Office Accounting software, in yet another indication that the company is giving up on financial software. In an email sent to customers today, Microsoft says it will no longer distribute the Office Accounting product, and will start pulling key features within six weeks.
"We are writing to let you know that we will no longer distribute Microsoft Office Accounting after 16 November 2009," the email states.
"On 30 October 2009, Microsoft will transfer customer support for Office Accounting in the UK to Mamut Software Ltd. Product support for Office Accounting will continue in accordance with the published Microsoft product support life cycle." Customers are being offered a "free upgrade" to Mamut Business Software.
Microsoft says customers can continue to use the Office Accounting software, but add-on features such as payroll and ePayments will be discontinued from 15 December, giving companies only six weeks to make alternative arrangements. A Microsoft support notice says the company is in discussions with ePayments provider, Albany, to help customers migrate.
The move has angered Microsoft customers. "Should we now be wary of using Microsoft products as they may just stop producing them in the future after customers have invested time in learning the products?"