[Infowarrior] - Microsoft outlines pay-per-use PC vision

[Richard Forno]

  December 29, 2008 6:00 AM PST
Microsoft outlines pay-per-use PC vision

Microsoft has applied for a patent on metered, pay-as-you-go computing.

U.S. patent application number 20080319910, published on Christmas  
Day, details Microsoft's vision of a situation where a "standard  
model" of PC is given away or heavily subsidized by someone in the  
supply chain. The end user then pays to use the computer, with charges  
based on both the length of usage time and the performance levels  
utilized, along with a "one-time charge."

Microsoft notes in the application that the end user could end up  
paying more for the computer, compared with the one-off cost entailed  
in the existing PC business model, but argues the user would benefit  
by having a PC with an extended "useful life."

"A computer with scalable performance level components and selectable  
software and service options has a user interface that allows  
individual performance levels to be selected," reads the patent  
application's abstract. The patent application was filed June 21, 2007.

"The scalable performance level components may include a processor,  
memory, graphics controller, etc. Software and services may include  
word processing, email, browsing, database access, etc. To support a  
pay-per-use business model, each selectable item may have a cost  
associated with it, allowing a user to pay for the services actually  
selected and that presumably correspond to the task or tasks being  
performed," the abstract continues.

Integral to Microsoft's vision is a security module, embedded in the  
PC, that would effectively lock the PC to a certain supplier.

"The metering agents and specific elements of the security  
module...allow an underwriter in the supply chain to confidently  
supply a computer at little or no upfront cost to a user or business,  
aware that their investment is protected and that the scalable  
performance capabilities generate revenue commensurate with actual  
performance level settings and usage," the application reads.

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