Microsoft prices may climb

Companies using Microsoft software should expect a major price hike following changes to the software makers licensing terms.

A study from the Gartner Group warns that corporate customers may be forced to pay 50 percent more annually through 2002.

Microsoft executives questioned how Gartner Group analysts arrived at their estimate, since the software company has yet to set a price for Windows 2000. Company officials did confirm that Microsoft is in the process of simplifying the licensing and pricing structure for most of its software.

The full story is online at www.techweb.com .