Microsoft Gives Free Software to College Students to Win Business Customers Later

Microsoft is offering free access to its Microsoft 365 software (tools like Word, Excel, and email) to US college students until the end of October. The company is betting that students who learn to use these tools in school will keep using them after graduation. When these students get jobs and eventually help their companies decide what software to buy, they'll likely recommend Microsoft—the software they're already familiar with. This approach lets Microsoft build customer loyalty before students even enter the workforce, which could lead to big business sales down the road.