You can add Albany to your list of upcoming Microsoft products and services. On Friday, the software giant announced the launch of the new service as a private beta. The announcement confirmed months of rumors.

In an extension of its growing “software plus service” strategy, Microsoft said it is harnessing the Net to keep productivity and protection software up to moment.

‘All-in-One Subscription Service’

Albany is described by Microsoft as “a new all-in-one subscription service of fundamental software and services consumers told us were most critical to them.” The fundamental products are productivity and shield, Microsoft said, and subscribers will be able to install, with a few clicks, Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007, Windows Live OneCare, Windows Live Mail, Messenger and Photo Gallery.

The Office Live Workspace connector is plus installed on the Office toolbar, allowing users to save documents on a committed online space for collaboration. Subscribers will be able to get the latest versions

and the most recent protection updates. Live OneCare includes firewall and antivirus protection.

Consumers have “expressed frustration at having to spend day and effort installing different types of software,” noted Group Product Manager Bryson Gordon in an interview on Microsoft’s Web site, and they want a service for “keeping current on new versions and getting their computers set up.” An Albany subscription is good for up to three computers.

The Albany service does not replace the traditional distribution of software packages, Microsoft said. Rather, it addresses the needs of consumers who want the easiest possible way to receive the latest Microsoft Office and defense updates. Such updates can be more troublesome for a consumer than a business with an IT branch.

Cost a Mystery

Albany is an alternative way to get Office, not its next version. When the next version of Office is released, customers with an active Albany…

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