The first-ever trial version of Microsoft´s Office business software comes as the company increasingly positions itself against AOL Time Warner. AOL for years distributed trial CDs for its online service through direct mail, computer trade magazines and other avenues.

Microsoft´s .Net and recently announced HailStorm technologies, now under development, target consumers through online services and set the company on a collision course with similar services from AOL, analysts said.

But unlike AOL, Microsoft will ask prospective Office XP users to cough up $9.95 for shipping and handling. Once installed, the trial version runs for 30 days.

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