Microsoft is looking to tempt disgruntled legacy G Suite users with a “special offer” that includes a 60% discount on year-long Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Business Standard, or Business Premium subscriptions.
Last month, Google announced that it would give those with free G Suite accounts until 1 July to upgrade their plans to a paid subscription, after which point they will lose access to most of its services. The move could be especially detrimental to small businesses that were able to save up to £13.80 per user per month by not paying for a G Suite, now known as Workspace, account.
Microsoft has seemingly decided to capitalise on Google’s decision, identifying a new group of potential customers who could be seeking a new email account provider, allowing them to also benefit from Microsoft Teams, cloud storage, as well as a suite of Office apps.
“If you’re a small business that’s relied on G Suite legacy free edition, we couldn’t help but notice you might be in the market for a new solution. We’ve got news for you: today, you can get a 60% discount on a 12-month Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Business Standard, or Business Premium subscription, along with the help you need to make the move,” Jared Spataro, corporate vice president for Microsoft 365, announced last week in a blog post.
Small businesses that decide to migrate their data from legacy G Suite to Microsoft 365 will be able to benefit from Microsoft’s Business Assist, which provides expertise and advice for those who are new to the service, ensuring that they make the most out of 365.
Google has since backtracked on its decision to shutter legacy accounts, adding a section to its support page that promises more options for people to keep the data stored in their accounts for free. Although the options won't include premium features like custom email or multi-account management, this could potentially be subject to change “in the coming months”, the tech giant added.
The company was not immediately available to comment when reached by IT Pro.
