Microsoft Smothers Sage and Intuit

Microsoft Smothers Sage and Intuit

Microsoft's Office Accounting software, used to challenge Sage and Intuit, has become the latest victim of corporate cuts.
The package will no longer be distributed after November 16, the IT company said Friday. Versions of the IT product affected are the Express, Standard, Professional, Professional Plus, three-user and Small Business Accounting in North America and the UK.

The decision to cut Office Accounting and have people use existing features in Office and Dynamics is likely part of Microsoft's attempts to cut its costs in product development, marketing and sales in areas where there are overlap.

Other Microsoft products, IT services and divisions cut recently include MSN Direct, MSN Encarta, Soapbox, Windows Live OneCare, Razorfish, Aces Studio, and its Software Licensing and Protection (SLP) Services unit.