Microsoft opens wallet wider for small business

Microsoft said on Tuesday that it is lowering the threshold for software purchases that the company will help finance, part of its effort to boost sales to smaller businesses. Under the new program, announced at Microsoft's first Small Business Summit, customers can get 36-month loans on purchases as low as $3,000. Previously, the minimum transaction was $10,000.

Also at the event, Microsoft unveiled an expanded pact with Best Buy. As part of that deal, the electronics store will carry Microsoft Point of Sale, which is retail software for managing things like cash registers.