Microsoft now emphasizes Microsoft 365 subscriptions, digital activation, and cloud-driven update and management tools such as WSUS, Intune and Endpoint Manager. FrontPage and Silverlight are discontinued; Visual Studio and Publisher remain. Organizations typically use volume licensing and enterprise update services, while developers rely on modern web technologies instead of deprecated plugins.
Microsoft productivity software: subscription, not just boxed suites
Microsoft no longer markets Office primarily as a boxed product. Today, Microsoft 365 (subscription) delivers Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook across Windows, macOS, iOS and Android. Perpetual Office versions (Office 2019, Office 2021) still exist, but most feature updates and cloud services come through Microsoft 365.
FrontPage was discontinued years ago and is no longer supported. Publisher remains a Windows-focused desktop application and is available to Microsoft 365 and some perpetual-license customers. Visual Studio continues as Microsoft's flagship IDE, with Visual Studio 2022 the current major release for Windows and Visual Studio for Mac maintained separately.
Licensing, activation and validation
Microsoft requires activation or digital license validation for Windows and certain downloads or upgrades. Modern Windows (10 and 11) typically use a digital entitlement tied to hardware or a Microsoft account for activation. For enterprise and education, volume licensing and campus agreements provide licensed access under terms that vary by institution.
Some advocacy groups have urged hardware certification processes to be more transparent - arguing that publishing full hardware specifications helps independent developers create compatible drivers and software. These debates around openness, interoperability and certification persist in different forms.
Updates: from Automatic Updates to WSUS and cloud services
Windows Update still distributes security patches to consumer devices. For organizations, Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) and Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager enable IT teams to host update content on their intranets, approve patches and control rollout schedules.
Microsoft also offers cloud-driven update paths through Microsoft Update for business devices and Microsoft Intune, which integrate with Endpoint Manager for modern management and patch deployment.
Validation, downloads and alternatives
Microsoft has long required validation for some downloads and features. Users can obtain updates and apps through Windows Update, the Microsoft Store, or enterprise distribution tools. Where legacy or vulnerable Microsoft components exist, some organizations choose alternative open-source or third-party applications to reduce risk or dependency.
Silverlight, once a Microsoft browser plugin and streaming SDK, reached end of support for mainstream browsers years ago and is no longer a recommended development platform. Web apps today typically use HTML5, JavaScript frameworks, and WebAssembly.
Voice, partners and positioning
Voice over IP quality has improved with widespread broadband, QoS tools, and cloud telephony. Microsoft Teams now combines calling, meetings and collaboration, replacing older products like Skype for Business.
Microsoft continues to work with partners through its partner program, retooled around cloud-first solutions and certified competencies that help vendors build and distribute integrated offerings on Microsoft platforms.
Overall, Microsoft's software and services have shifted from boxed, standalone applications toward subscription services, cloud delivery, and integrated enterprise management tools.
- Confirm exact dates and termination details for the FlexGo pilot program and whether Microsoft officially discontinued it (FlexGo timeline) [[CHECK]]