Microsoft updated it’s suite of mobile iOS applications today by unifying the applications on a single code base for both the iPhone and iPad.
Previously, the iPad version of the Office suite was 3 separate applications (Word, Excel, and Powerpoint) which required a paid Office 365 subscription in order to create and do editing of documents. Meanwhile, the iPhone version was a singular application called Office Mobile that contained the functionality of Word, Excel, and Powerpoint as options.
The biggest difference is Office Mobile allowed creating and editing personal documents (i.e. what was considered non-business use) for free without a paid Office 365 subscription (by linking to a subscription, you got access to slightly more advanced functionality).
The update consolidates these disparities and brings Microsoft Office for iOS into the “freemium” world. For Microsoft, this is a high-wire balancing act since they generate the bulk of their revenue from the sale of software and services. The challenge they face is free offerings from both Google (Google Docs) and Apple (iWork is given away free with every iPhone, iPad, and Mac purchase).
The hook of course is leveraging cloud based services (Office 365) to unlock the more advanced features. OneDrive users for example are upgraded to unlimited storage with a Office 365 subscription.
I myself don’t (yet) have an Office 365 subscription (to be forthcoming, I don’t have any paid subscriptions over the base offerings for iCloud, Google, Box, and Dropbox). Myself, Google Drive is off-limits on all my devices (again, I limit my overall exposure and usage to Google properties; the ones I use the most are Blogger for this blog and YouTube). Thus while I did download the original iPad suite, it was useless. Office Mobile on the iPhone was a completely different experience though. For my needs, it was perfect.
But before this move, one question that did float through my head was this disparity between the iPad and iPhone versions; Microsoft seemed to be missing the point by not even allowing some rudimentary level of functionality in the iPad version. That’s now been rectified but Microsoft still has a lot of work to do to make the experience feel more consolidated.
Setup in the old Office Mobile app was simple (you just enter your Microsoft credentials once and it was done). It’s not as smooth with the three separate apps since it makes it seem like you have to do it three separate times. But in actuality, the first time you sign in to your Microsoft account from any of the 3 apps, the others will know. Same for setting up access to Dropbox.
This leads me to an observation: what’s most notable is how quickly Microsoft is embracing iOS under new CEO Satya Nadella. Former CEO Steve Ballmer held up these mobile apps from being officially launched sooner, and the application development pace likely would not have been as rapid as this under his reign. I’m still far from being sold on the “new” Microsoft. But what I’m seeing is a great improvement over the one that Ballmer ran.
Now I know the most hardcore of Apple fanatics will view any mobile move that Microsoft makes as being too late. I’m still reserving judgement on that given their objective with Windows 10. If they can deliver (especially on the unified application development platform), the entire equation could be a huge game changer for them because all of their desktop software developers, will by extension have a presence on the mobile side. But that’s a BIG “IF” since the company hasn’t been the best at executing on all cylinders when it comes to their operating system strategies post Windows XP.
Still, this competition by someone other than Google (who is more interested in your personal information), is what’s needed to keep Apple in check. I’ve already noted my issues with Yosemite as well as my lack of confidence in Apple’s web services. And as I mentioned before, iCloud is one of the biggest keys in being the glue that makes one sticky to the Apple ecosystem. But when some of the functionality of iCloud requires the latest operating system, that entire glue disappears from the equation.
Since I’m staying away from Yosemite as long as possible, iCloud Drive is a no go. Much of the new integrated functionality between Apple devices require Yosemite. But I’m not going to sacrifice the overall usability of my desktop system for that aspect. And as I noted before, newer Mac hardware will eventually require Yosemite as a minimum. Again, I don’t have an issue with the UI on iOS 7/8; but that works well on a mobile device which doesn’t use overlapping windows the way a desktop UI allows.
As I’ve noted before, that entire aspect puts into question the Mac as my desktop platform of choice in the future sans major UI changes including officially supporting appearance changes. I know I’m not the only one but we’re a smaller minority of those who have actual usability issues with the new operating system (not enough to make the kind of noise needed to get changes made as part of these decisions which are being primarily product marketing driven). But my premise has always been “best tool for the job” and Yosemite as a desktop OS is falling far short of that.
And this is why Office for iOS going freemium is just a small step that will allow Microsoft to gain a small amount of leverage with those of us long time Apple customers, who may be potentially looking to transition to another ecosystem if Apple keeps making these questionable user interface design decisions that do not improve the overall user experience.
