Software + Service is more than just SaaS.  Today we face an exciting shift in the technology industry where the experiences between consumer and business are changing.  Businesses have come to expect same functionality and experience at work that they see at home.  Rich web enablement, interoperability between devices, and OS agnostic solutions are becoming standard expectations.  In order to solutions that cross those experiences, it requires a blended approach incorporating elements of both hosted services and on-premise software.  This approach, which Microsoft calls “Software + Services,” enables the combination of ubiquitous connectivity and information delivered over the Internet with the extraordinary capabilities that can be achieved only by software running locally on a device with a powerful processor. Software + Services also ensures that people can take advantage of software when they aren’t connected to the Internet.

It’s not an all-or-nothing proposition. Microsoft, its customers, and partners all realize the value in existing software models and IT investments. Rather, Software + Services is an additive model that gives customers increased choice in deployment options, including on-premises, delivered over the Internet, or as a hybrid model that delivers the best of both worlds. In fact, as people move to software interaction through a broader mix of digital devices and form factors, this hybrid experience will become the default user scenario for both consumers and business users.