Microsoft seems to be a big supporter of Apple and its latest efforts. When Apple announced the iPad Pro and more earlier this month, corporate executives were on the scene. Now, some believe that Microsoft is trying to carefully manage the threat posed by the iPad Pro by requiring iPad Pro buyers to edit documents with Microsoft Office for iPad. Part of this claim is true, the other part is pure conjecture.
Reports surfaced this week that Microsoft is charging for access to its Office apps for iPad. ArsTechnica He delved deeper into the terms associated with Microsoft Office apps available on the iTunes Store and Google Play Store. Microsoft later confirmed to this point of sale that iPad Pro users will have to pay for an Office 365 subscription. This is despite Microsoft not charging regular iPad owners for creating and editing documents and spreadsheets.
Microsoft Office is the world’s most popular productivity suite and includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote for mobile devices. Having access to Microsoft Office is essential. Taking the company on stage, Apple acknowledges how important the software suite is to maintaining productivity.
The problem with some early reports is that Microsoft is somehow deliberately targeting the iPad Pro with this announcement. This is actually a false truth. Microsoft is not targeting the iPad Pro for creating Office 365 subscriptions. However, it targets the class of devices to which the iPad Pro belongs: 2-in-1s. 2-in-1 devices have larger screens and advanced features so that they can act as the only device in the user’s life. These large screens make them a direct threat to laptops. Whether it’s the new Office Mobile apps for Windows or the full desktop version of Office 2016, Microsoft already charges for access to Office on laptops.
Prior to the release of Windows 10, Microsoft clarified its position and carved out a niche for Office Mobile apps. Office Mobile apps are completely free for anyone to read and edit a document on smartphones and tablets with screen sizes smaller than 10.1 inches. For example, iPad Air users get completely unlimited access to Microsoft Office Mobile without an Office 365 subscription, as the screen is 9.7 inches.
The same metric comes back to haunt the iPad Pro, which is designed to be the only device users need. The iPad Pro has the largest screen Apple has ever used for a tablet: it measures a whopping 12.9 inches. That’s even a bigger screen than some laptops these days offer. The larger screen pushes the iPad Pro towards laptop replacement space and a device aimed at productivity. That’s why Microsoft charges for Microsoft Office on iPad Pro. That’s why it continues to charge users for access to Microsoft Office on its Surface Pro 3 tablet.
Microsoft Office for iPad Pro must be covered by Office 365 device benefits. Office 365 Personal costs $69.99 per year or $6.99 per month. Unlocks full Windows and Mac versions of Office apps for a laptop or PC, 1 tablet like iPad Pro, and 1 smartphone. Users also get 1TB of OneDrive storage and a monthly subscription to Microsoft’s Skype calling service. There’s also an upgraded plan for $9.99 per month with enough Microsoft Office downloads for the whole family.
The key takeaway here is that customers who plan to purchase an iPad Pro and use it with Microsoft’s Office for iPad apps will need an Office 365 subscription. Otherwise, they can only read their documents and spreadsheets on the go.
