Microsoft's Free Student Program Aims to Build Future Business Customers

Microsoft is offering free Microsoft 365 Personal subscriptions (a bundle of productivity apps like Word and Excel, plus Copilot AI tools) to US college students through the end of October. The company is betting that students who get comfortable using these tools during school will stick with them after graduation. Once these graduates enter the workforce and eventually move into positions where they influence buying decisions, they'll likely push their employers to adopt Microsoft products. This approach lets Microsoft build customer loyalty before students even enter the job market, potentially turning familiar users into corporate sales later on.