Of course, all I can do is guess as to Microsoft's plans for the future, but a subscription-only model that requires Internet connectivity seems like a safe guess. It seems that Microsoft is looking to a future when all Office licenses are subscription-based and Office is entirely online (with the possibility of locally installed software still existing, but requiring Internet connectivity in order to function). When you also consider that Microsoft is rebranding the Web version of Office from 'Office Online' to simply 'Office,' it becomes quite clear what direction Microsoft is planning to go. Microsoft is updating the Home Use Program to offer discounts on the latest and most up to date products such as Office 365, which is always up to date with premium versions of Office apps across all your devices. Office Professional Plus 2019 and Office Home and Business 2019 are no longer available as Home Use Program offers. The company announced the change in an update to this FAQ, which now says the following under the 'What has changed' section: The program, which had allowed people to buy deeply discounted copies of Office for use on their personal computers, will be shifting to a subscription-only licensing model.
Microsoft recently decided that it will no longer sell perpetual licenses for Office Professional Plus 2019 and Office Home and Business 2019 as part of its Home Use Program.
