Reports suggesting that Microsoft would offer Office to platforms that compete with its own Windows Phone have long been in circulation. Today's report comes from The Verge, which claims to have details from several sources close to Microsoft's plans.
More Insights
Webcasts
- The Untapped Potential of Mobile Apps for Commercial Customers
- Why is Information Governance So Important for Modern Analytics?
White Papers
- Managing Volatility through Smart Inventory Planning
- Supply Chain Management Best Practice Guide: Three Rules for Building a Smarter Supply Chain
Reports
More >>Microsoft Office will be made available to Android and iOS devices first as free applications. These free apps, including Word, PowerPoint and Excel, will require a Microsoft account. They will be limited to read-only, meaning Android and iOS device owners won't be able to make changes to the documents, presentations or spreadsheets.
[ Is Microsoft working on an iPad Mini competitor? Microsoft Planning 7-Inch Surface Mini? ]
Android and iOS device owners looking for more functionality will have to purchase a subscription to Microsoft's Office 365 service. Even then, editing functions will be limited to the basics. Corporations will also have the ability to purchase Office 365 subscriptions for employees. According to The Verge's sources, even this expanded functionality won't replace the full desktop version of Microsoft Office.
Earlier this year, Microsoft's Czech Republic subsidiary said Office Mobile would reach Android and iOS during the first quarter of 2013. Microsoft has not commented on The Verge's report.
I haven't used Microsoft Office in more than six years. Google Docs has provided all the word processing, presentation creation and spreadsheet functionality I need. I can use Google Docs on my desktop machines, laptops, tablets and smartphones no matter what OS they run, and it's all free. Google's cloud services are what make Google Docs truly useful. Not having to constantly transfer files from one machine to another has been a time saver and life saver at times.
That's why basic view-only versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint sound somewhat useless to me. The inability to seamlessly sync the files between machines and form factors (let alone the inability to edit them) renders the idea moot. The Office 365 subscription would be a necessity. There's no word on how much Microsoft might charge Android and iOS device owners to use its cloud services.
On the other hand, these features are all built into Windows Phone 8. Microsoft took care to give WP8 rich editing and syncing capabilities with Office 365, SkyDrive, and its WinRT and Win8 cousins.
Is Microsoft hoping to eke out a bit of profit from its competitors, given their expansive scale compared to its own? Windows Phone has barely broken 2% of the U.S. smartphone market, while Android and iOS together own the lion's share.
InformationWeek is conducting our annual Outlook Survey to explore how IT leaders are planning their priorities and budgets for 2013. The results of the survey will appear in an upcoming issue as well as in an in-depth report. Take our InformationWeek 2013 Outlook Survey now and enter to win one Samsung Series 5 Chromebook. Survey ends Nov. 19.
