Microsoft Is Making It Easier for Companies to Get a Surface Hub

There are companies still using hardware from a decade ago, or worse–still using Windows XP. Those businesses most likely won’t be in the market for a Surface Hub, but it illustrates the point that IT budgets are tight. A Surface Hub is $7,000 on the cheap end, which makes it a fairly ostentatious IT purchase. Microsoft understands the challenge, though, so it introduced a variety of options to make it easier for customers to get one.

The Microsoft Surface Hub launched in early 2016. Microsoft has experienced relative success so far—shipping the Surface Hub to more than 2,000 customers spanning 24 markets across the globe. Microsoft wants more customers to be able to benefit from the Surface Hub, though, so it has created a variety of subscription and deployment options for customers.

The Surface Hub is the massive cousin of the popular Surface Pro and Surface Book hybrid tablet / laptops. The Surface Hub is an all-in-one PC housed in a massive display. It comes in two sizes—55 inches and 84 inches—and is intended for use in conference rooms, stage presentations, and similar environments.

At the Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC) in December, Microsoft shared the Surface Enterprise Initiative—a coordination of partnerships and programs designed to make Surface devices easier to acquire. The Surface Enterprise Initiative includes things like Surface-as-a-Service subscriptions, and multi-national partnerships that help Microsoft reach more customers in more markets.

The device isn’t cheap, though. The 55-inch unit is $7,000 and the 84-inch Surface Hub will set you back $20,000. Not every company has that kind of budget available—and even those that do might be reluctant to invest in a unique device like this without first having a chance to see what value it might bring. Today, Microsoft revealed details of how the Surface Enterprise Initiative applies to the Surface Hub with the announcement of programs that make it easier for customers to obtain a Surface Hub.

Read the full story on Forbes: Microsoft Unveils New Surface Hub Purchasing Options.