Microsoft continues to cash-in on axed OneCare

 

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By Barry Collins

Posted on 11 Dec 2008 at 14:50

Microsoft is continuing to automatically charge customers for its Windows Live OneCare security suite - even though it will be phased out from next summer.

The software giant announced last month that it would be replacing OneCare with a free security product codenamed Morro.

That hasn't stopped the company processing annual renewals for existing customers, however, as PC Pro's contributing editor, Jon Honeyball, discovered today.

The email states that he will be charged £38 for the one-year subscription unless he cancels before 6 January.

The email makes no mention of the fact that Microsoft plans to discontinue the software. Indeed, the email suggests OneCare is set to run and run. "This is an annual subscription that will be automatically renewed every year at the then current price unless you cancel your account or select an alternative plan," the email states.

Microsoft has previously committed to support OneCare users for the duration of their subscription. However, many customers may feel dismayed that they're being automatically re-enrolled into software that has no long-term future.

The company was unable to comment on this story at the time of publication.