Office for iPad Marks Fundamental Shift for Microsoft

Microsoft has announced that its Office software suite is finally coming to Apple's iPad tablet. Microsoft's newest Chief Executive Officer, Satya Nadella, unveiled the iPad version of Office at a news conference last Thursday.

Microsoft Apprehensive About Releasing Office for iPad

It's a bit of a mystery as to why Microsoft waited so long to release Office for a tablet that first launched roughly four years ago.

Some experts believe that Office for iPad has been ready for release for a number of years. It's speculated that Microsoft wanted to keep Office on its own tablet device (the Surface), and thus give it a 'leg up' on the market. (Source: zdnet.com)

Other reports suggest that Microsoft was apprehensive to release Office for iPad because it would hurt sales of Windows-based PCs. That's because roughly four years ago, the only device capable running MS Office was a Windows-based PC. But now, that's simply not the case. (Source: zdnet.com)

"Putting out Office for iPad is a clear sign that Microsoft is finally liberating itself from long-held dogma and embracing new ideas. That change in strategy means Microsoft customers will finally be able to choose freely among hardware platforms ... Until now, Microsoft has guarded Windows like a treasure hoard - a conservatism that put Microsoft's other businesses at a disadvantage," writes Ryan Tate of Wired.com. (Source: wired.com)

Fast forward four years and the tablet market has literally exploded, overtaking sales of PCs with a whopping 38% growth expected for 2014. (Source: gartner.com) Microsoft is now struggling to sell both PCs and its own tablet, the Surface. Thus, Microsoft determined it could generate more revenue by simply releasing its Office software for the iPad. (Source: businessinsider.com)

The windfall could be huge: in fact, early estimates suggest that Office revenue could increase by as much as $3 billion. Of course, Apple will also take its cut: reports indicate that Apple's share of the enormous Office profits could be as high as 30 per cent.

Download Office for iPad: Free, but Limited

Office for iPad was built with a touchscreen in mind, though some features have been stripped altogether. Those who require a full-featured version of MS Office will need to purchase a Windows-based tablet or run it on a PC (Source: zdnet.com). This was done on purpose to promote Surface tablets as well as bolster Windows PC sales.

Office for iPad features large images and icons optimized for dragging, rotating, and expanding. According to ZDNet expert James Kendrick, "all three Office apps have the right mix of features and usability that is appropriate for tablets." (Source: zdnet.com)

For iPad users interested in giving Office a try, a free, downloadable version is now available through Apple's app store. This will allow users to get a sense for how the included apps work. Three Office applications are currently available for download, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

In order to create and save new documents, users will need to purchase a subscription to Microsoft's cloud-based Office 365 service. The Home Premium subscription targeted at home users runs about $99 per year up front, or $9.99 a month and includes 60 minutes of free calls on Skype, plus 20GB of online storage. Business users will pay closer to $160 each year.

What's Your Opinion?

What do you think of Office for iPad? Do you believe it is a good idea, or is Microsoft's offering simply too little, too late? Do you think that Office for iPad marks a fundamental shift in focus for Microsoft, and do you believe that sales of PCs will suffer as a result? Lastly, are you a tablet owner and have you tried using an office suite on a tablet? If so, what was your experience and how does it compare to using a desktop suite?