It's not a surprise, given the lack of new versions of Microsoft Money in the UK, but the program is being discontinued. Microsoft says: "Microsoft Money Plus will not be available for purchase after June 30, 2009. All purchased Money Plus products must be activated prior to Jan. 31, 2011."
Microsoft has also published a comprehensive FAQ about it.
Once you've bought the program it should continue to work forever, of course. However, there is always some risk that it will not be fully compatible with future versions of Windows. Also, banks and financial institutions that provide automated services for Money (which include tax rates and share prices) probably won't continue to do that for a declining audience, though you should still be able to download data and import it.
US users have an option in that they can still use Quicken, though Intuit abandoned UK users a long time ago. A Microsoft spokesman told TechFlash in Seattle:
"Microsoft is working with Intuit to help develop a file conversion process that will help Money customers more easily convert their existing data files to Quicken. Both Intuit and Microsoft hope this will be ready to go for the new release of Quicken this fall."
There are also online programs that provide similar features, including Quicken Online. However, this is a dangerous area for "cloud computing". You need to ensure that you won't lose all your data if you get locked out of your account (which is a frequent problem with online services), or if the supplier goes bust (not uncommon). If you run a business, you may also have to observe laws concerning the security and privacy of financial data, such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
Having a desktop product that synchronises with an online system could be a good solution, since each provides a backup for the other. If you've found a good standalone or online alternative, please let us know.
Hat-tip to CNet for breaking the story: Microsoft to discontinue MS Money
