Microsoft’s free Office software floating in the cloud this year
By Adrian Weckler
Microsoft will launch the first free version of its Office software later this year, in an attempt to engage with cloud-based applications.
The software giant is to offer Word, PowerPoint, Excel and One Note as free online services for anyone with a Windows Live account. Although aimed for use with Internet Explorer, the service will also work with Firefox, Safari and Chrome, according to Jeremy Showalter, a product manager with Microsoft.
“We want as many people to use this as possible,” said Showalter.” We think that when people see its possibilities, they’ll be able to get more out of Office.”
The company is also launching new features for existing software Office applications, such as PowerPoint, which will be able to ‘live cast’ projects and documents among people working online on the same project.
However, the free software will not have all of the features available on the boxed, CD-based software discs, which will cost up to €400 to buy.
‘’We see this as a companion to Office, rather than a full competitor in the office software market,” said a Microsoft spokesman. ‘’It will be completely free to use for anyone with an internet-connected device.”
The US pricing for the full versions of Office 2010 was released at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last month. The software can be bought either as a boxed product or as an’ activation’ on new PCs.
To activate the software, which will come preloaded on most new PCs, a code is required. This code will be available on special key cards that Microsoft intends to sell in computer and electronics retailers.
As with previous versions of the software, the cheapest version of Office 2010 will be Office Home and Student, which will cost $150 (€104) as a boxed product or $200 (€138) when activated by the key card.
Office Home and Business will retail for $280 as a boxed product, or $200with a product key card. Office Professional will retail for $500 as a boxed product, and $350 with a product key card.
