<p>Simon Jones ponders the ethical question of supplying free office software and services to schoolchildren</p><p>Microsoft Office 365 is to be sold to schools, taking over from the existing Live@edu service. Plans A2, A3 and A4 are similar to the enterprise plans E2, E3 and E4, but seem to be missing the SharePoint component although this can be added at extra cost.</p><p>Plan A2, based around Office Web Apps, Outlook Web App, Exchange Online and Lync Online, couldn't be any cheaper since it's free for all pupils and staff at any educational establishment.</p><p>The A3 plan adds rental of Office Professional Plus, unlimited email storage, archiving and hosted voicemail, and it costs 1.98 per student per month and 3.50 per staff member per month.</p><p><a href="http://www.pcpro.co.uk/realworld/377329/free-office-software-for-schools-whats-the-catch">Keep reading...</a></p><p>Read also:</p><p><a href="http://searchconsumerization.techtarget.com/news/2240164394/File-format-compatibility-issues-in-the-era-of-consumerization">File format compatibility issues in the era of consumerization</a> (TechTarget)</p><p><a href="http://redmondmag.com/articles/2012/10/01/google-drops-support.aspx">Google Apps Drops Export Support for Older Microsoft Office Files</a> (Redmondmag.com)</p><p><a href="http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2012/10/03/microsoft-and-google-battle-hearts-and-minds-students">Cloud Computing Ground War</a> (Inside Higher Ed)</p><p>Explore: <a href="http://news.google.com/news/more?ncl=d7YyBxT4GxFGWnMIeN0b7HvhZ9hfM&ned=us">10 additional articles.</a></p>