Jan 292011
 

Microsoft is pretty satisfied with sales of Microsoft Office for Mac, but they are not quite sure whether to make Microsoft Office for iPhone.  The Mac App store was launched earlier this month and already makes up thirty percent of the sales from Apple.

The visitors of App store are offered Apple’s iWork components, which rival Office offerings, like pages and keynotes.

Recently, in an interview the senior director of Microsoft, Jason Bunge, informed that soon Microsoft Office will expand its perimeter to other platforms. What he said was not just a bluff as last week the company released its first piece of office tools, One-Note, for iPhone.

Although it was just a small portion of Office and possibly the most low key part, it is probably the beginning of something new. Microsoft did not rule out the possibility to bring the complete Office suite,  rather, they said that they have intention of bringing these applications for other devices as well which in other words means… Microsoft Office for iPhone is coming soon.

In contrast, earlier this year Microsoft shipped two million Windows 7 phones to carriers. Although they have a lot of work ahead, they are about to pose a serious threat to iPhone. And  Office is probably the most appreciated piece of software they have ever produced. Indeed the latest version, Office 10, is the strongest consumer edition in the company’s history.

Yes, Microsoft should look to extend the compatibility of their applications, but whether or not their best product should be provided to their rivals is going to be a huge decision. The One-Note version for iPhones was free at the iOS store.

In the last quarter of 2010 the company had earned a revenue of 19.95 billion dollar. Microsoft has Kinect sensors and sold eight million of them in just 60 days. So the company is inspired with their recent success, and this enthusiasm may lead them to bring Office to the iPhone.

Either way it goes, try Quickoffice app is pretty awesome, we use it quite often on iPad and iPhone

Oct 192010
 

Looks like Microsoft’s ubiquitous productivity software is about to be going into the cloud, as Office 365 has been announced for testing with global availability planned for sometime next year.

Not to be confused with the free Office Web Apps that allow basic editing of files using lightweight online versions of OneNote, Word and Excel, Office 365 is intended to be a full cloud-based Office productivity environment.

Microsoft worked closely with existing customers to develop Office 365, resulting in a cloud service that is designed to meet a wide range of customer needs.

The Office 365 package – currently set to begin testing in 13 business markets – includes SharePoint, Lync Online, Exchange and the Office System itself (or business-targeted versions of the Office Web Apps for individual professionals and small businesses) in a constantly-updated online environment for any commonly-used device and web browser combination no matter where you go. According to Microsoft Office Division president Kurt DelBene, “Office 365 is the best of everything we know about productivity, all in a single cloud service.”

DelBene continues to say that ”With Office 365, your local bakery can get enterprise-caliber software and services for the first time, while a multinational pharmaceutical company can reduce costs and more easily stay current with the latest innovations. People can focus on their business, while we and our partners take care of the technology.”

According to the official press release, Microsoft has “worked closely with existing customers to develop Office 365, resulting in a cloud service that is designed to meet a wide range of customer needs.” Two packages are initially planned for roll-out in 40 business markets at some time in 2011: a professional user/small business package with a target cost of $6 (or 5.25 euros) per user for each month contracted. The enterprise package – which includes a Office Professional Plus desktop option — is targeted at a $24 (or 22.75 euros) per user over each contracted month.