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Microsoft Makes Office Mobile Editing Free As in Freemium

Posted by timothy on from the free-is-relative dept.

An anonymous reader writes Microsoft today announced a significant change to its Office strategy for mobile devices: creating and editing is now free. The company also released standalone Word, Excel, and PowerPoint apps for the iPhone, as well a new preview of these apps for Android tablets. Starting today, whether you're using an Office app on Android or iOS, you can create and edit content without an Office 365 subscription. The company is pitching this move as "More of Office for everyone."

7 of 98 comments (clear)

  1. I am impressed by iamacat · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The company is trying something new. It may or may not work out for them, but if they keep exploring, they are bound to find something that succeeds. That, and the effort to really understand user needs through Windows 10 preview, tells me that there may be some how for MS to capture back some of their former success.

    1. Re:I am impressed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

      By "finding something new", you mean copying what Google has had available for some time now.

      No he didn't even write "finding something new" so what are you quoting? He wrote "trying something new" and for Microsoft this is something new, this isn't just a web app in a container like Google Docs for iOS is, it is native productivity applications designed specifically for mobile platforms other than their own and offered free of charge.

      Even if this were somebody elses idea what is this obsession with disparaging people for copying good ideas? Nobody should have a monopoly on ideas. There seems to be an obsession with "being first" even if you do a shit job of it, just look at the state of Samsung's "innovations" these days in an effort to beat Apple to the punch, it's all about being first rather than being any good.

  2. Linus Torvalds won by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    'If Microsoft ever does applications for Linux it means I've won.' -- Linus Torvalds

  3. subscription?? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    without an Office 365 subscription

    Subscription? To a.... word processor?

    What foul sorcery is this?

  4. Required to stay relevant by merick · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I don't think this was so much of a desire to be innovative as it is to survive. With good-enough editors available on mobile devices, web services, and PCs, MS has to move down-market or risk entire new generations never using or needing their Office software.

    As it is, my daughter in middle-school has had some Office required assignments which prompted angry parent responses. I spoke with several other tech-oriented parents with kids at the school and none of them have MS Office at home. They all use either LibreOffice, OpenOffice or Apple's iWorks.

    Microsoft is battling obsolescence. This is a good attempt to reach a generation that doesn't know or care about them.

  5. Re:At least something not involving feminism these by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm sick and tired of feminism being shoved down my throat on every single issue. I mean, aren't there other, perhaps more important, issues out there?

    Oh yeah, I hear ya.

    It's almost as annoying as someone who can't stay on fucking topic...

  6. Freemium? by sootman · · Score: 4, Funny

    Editing: now free!

    In-app purchases:

    • Bold: $0.99
    • Italics: $0.99
    • Left/Right/Center/Justify: $0.99
    • "Power pack": numbered lists, bulleted lists, indent/outdent: $4.99

    PS: Speaking of lists: Slashdot, why don't you fucking render bulleted lists?!?!?

    --
    Dear Slashdot: next time you want to mess with the site, add a rich-text editor for comments.