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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."

4 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.

  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.