Microsoft Reportedly Considering iPad Version of Office

[MacRumors]

T3 reports that Microsoft Senior Product Manager Mike Tedesco revealed during the Office for Mac 2011 preview event at Macworld that the company is "looking at" the possibility of bringing its Office productivity suite to Apple's iPad tablet device.

"Yeah, it's something that we're looking at," said Microsoft's Mike Tedesco, who is the Senior Product Manager for WindowsBU. "Obviously the announcement (of the iPad) is really fresh and there's nothing to announce or nothing that I can talk to you about today.

As the report notes, the release of an Office suite for the iPad would bring a significant credibility boost to the device, particularly in the eyes of business users with a critical need for such productivity software. For its part, Apple featured iPad versions of its iWork applications at the iPad media event last month, and will be offering Pages, Numbers, and Keynote for the iPad through the App Store at $9.99 per application.

Tedesco's comments come soon after Microsoft founder Bill Gates downplayed the significance of the iPad, noting that "there's nothing on the iPad I look at and say, 'Oh, I wish Microsoft had done it.'"

Article Link: Microsoft Reportedly Considering iPad Version of Office

 

[Grimace]

This would be awesome! It would definitely make it a big iPod Touch with bonus productivity tools for the Winblow$ users. Toss in exchange support too!

Too bad it would be priced at $89 or something ridiculous compared to $9.99 for the iWork components.

 

[niuniu]

This would really be great, and oddly enough, would have Microsoft giving an Apple product some credibility..

 

[NakedPaulToast]

Now that Apple has iWork for iPad, will they allow Microsoft's competing apps?

Their arbitrary and non-competitive approval process, is going to be one of the largest hindrances to the iPad. I certainly won't be buying one until I see some drastic changes in their approval philosophy.

 

[Peace]

But I thought Gates thought the iPad wouldn't take off ?

 

[James L]

Office on the iPad would be huge for it... lending it a lot of credibility in many people's eyes.

I know I would prefer running my powerpoint presentations in class from the iPad versus lugging around a laptop all the time.

 

[stridemat]

But what dies Bill Gates know....

This would be good for the iPad though, would open it up to a much bigger market.

 

[the-oz-man]

Sounds like M$ needs to get their story straight. Maybe you can downplay the device, yet still make $$$ off of it . . .

 

[Dunnottar]

O.K., Bill, so "it's a nice reader" and you think your office suite might run on it. Sounds like more than a reader to me.

 

[speakerwizard]

It would be a lot easier for them if they had bothered to make a cocoa office already

 

[boncellis]

Now that Apple has iWork for iPad, will they allow Microsoft's competing apps?

I think it could help Apple sell more iPads so it's not out of the question.

The biggest drawback for me is whether it will be a decent word processing machine. I know it's designed primarily for content consumption, not creation, but the size and weight makes me hope it can serve as a passable word processor.

 

[ChazUK]

I thought Bill was retired from Microsoft?

Why the Bill hate.

 

[Glenny2lappies]

Good news

Excellent. It will be great to see some competition for Apple -- and will be good for Microsoft to get exposure on the Next Big Thing.

I'm convinced that the iPad represents the future. I can't wait to get hold of mine to use on the daily train commute. Just the ticket for reading, lightweight writing, listening, browsing and emailing.

 

[Analog Kid]

Excel on the iPad?! I hope they list it in the "Entertainment" part of the store...

Word might fit, if they take out all the mail merge crap and the talking paperclip.

I'm guessing we get a version of Notepad. Maybe Wordpad in a few years.

 

[Peace]

It would be a lot easier for them if they had bothered to make a cocoa office already

I'm sure MS is working on Cocoa. They will need to if they want Office on the iPad. Even though it's only a good reader.

But really. I think MS and Apple need to work closer because the new enemy is Google not MS.

 

[Hmac]

Sounds like M$ needs to get their story straight. Maybe you can downplay the device, yet still make $$$ off of it . . .

They've been doing that for decades. Their relationship with Apple has always been complicated.

 

[Analog Kid]

But I thought Gates thought the iPad wouldn't take off ?

You haven't learned the pattern yet? Whatever the topic at hand, it has no future. In a separate interview, MS states they will have a full range of products supporting it so no one need bother developing their own-- they'll be crushed. Maybe.

 

[marksman]

I am all for it.

I use bloated Office on my Mac, so would not mind using it on the iPad.

First and foremost Microsoft is a software developer, so making products that people can use makes sense. So if they can put something together, I will be interested.

Something tells me that it will be more than the $10 a component of iWorks though.

Edit: Bill does not run Microsoft any more, so the decision to make an iPad version or not is not really up to him, nor do I think he cares that much.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

As MS is a software company, this move makes sense. However, as Apple is also a software company, developing for Apple's hardware doesn't make sense. I think MS needs a tablet too, if they are going to be able to pull this one off.

I don't see it happening though. Apple is using their hardware to cripple the software prices. $10 for iWorks is effectively saying that software is cheap, which ruins MS's business model.

 

[GottaLoveApple4]

This would be good for competion and credibility of the iPad, but I would much rather have iWork since it can open, edit, and save Office files anyways. Not to mention that Office would be much more expensive.

 

[fox10078]

I'd like some examples of Apple rejecting competing functionality.

Since as i know the big one was google voice, which they have approved recently I read on the news.
Of course i could be wrong on that one.

 

[stridemat]

As MS is a software company, this move makes sense. However, as Apple is also a software company, developing for Apple's hardware doesn't make sense. I think MS needs a tablet too, if they are going to be able to pull this one off.

I don't see it happening though. Apple is using their hardware to cripple the software prices. $10 for iWorks is effectively saying that software is cheap, which ruins MS's business model.

Good point how can Microsoft compete with the $10 price tag? ($30 total for all three)

 

[strike1555]

I sure hope so. Say what you will about MS, but iWork is years behind Office.

 

[Espionage32]

No Talking PaperClip...

Please!!!!

 

[Hmac]

In contrast to the shrieking anti-iPad technistas here on MR that pooh-pooh the iPad for its technology, we're seeing the early stages of what Steve Jobs was telling us, "it's about the content, not the technology". More and more content providers in several different areas -- publishing, TV, Hulu, and even productivity in iWorks, Omni suite, and now MS Office are getting on board, and the iPad is still 2 months from launch. Amazing.

Bob Hail has to really be gnashing his teeth right now...