Microsoft Office 2010 to be free online

We knew Microsoft was almost ready to lift the lid on the next version of its Office suite of software, but we hadn't expected the surprises that appear in the offing.

According to reports in the US and Japan, the next iteration will not be called Office 14, as had been expected, but will instead go by the name Office 2010

[meepmoopmeep]

MSFT did this from the kindness of their hearts.
Google apps had nothing to do with it, no really.

:)

[InfectedDK]

Haha lol agree but this is still very very impressive and I'm glad to hear this. They weren't forced to do this but maybe in the long run it is the right decision for them to do this now.

[meepmoopmeep]

yeah, it's cool that they went this route.

MSO is pretty expensive to buy.

i expect Apple to follow suite. iWork has an online component but you have to subscribe.

[InfectedDK]

Cool
But hey.. Does the "free online" mean that you have to use it in the browser or will it be free to download with ads build in? Whatever my 2 copies I got with my PC's works fine. But still impressive though. But I guess if it's in the browser many will buy it instead. I can see the picture but it only proves an organizer online for documents doesn't it? I guess we'll have to wait and see for all this.

[meepmoopmeep]

that's a good question.

Google apps can be used offline so i dunno.

[Proxy]

Make it cheaper for businesses to contract with you.

It's all about market share. If they can teach every school child and their parents to use MS Office, then the employers are going to be forced to contract with MS and use their Office software.

This will be cheaper than the alternative which is training all employees to use a new Office suite.

Business contracts are where it's at.

[IdleLeeSiuLung]

No, it is called competition and happens in every industry....

[PotNoodle]

That is impressive. I know so many people hate microsoft and their products on this site, but microsoft office imo - is the best peice of computer software they currently make, so this is great.

I'm also looking forward to windows cloud, WHERE IS IT?!

[Pennywise]

I agree... It isnt a big secret I am not a fan of MS, but office is quality software. This is a bold step from MS. What are they to do without their yearly upgrade fees??

[Elven6]

Pennywise: It's ad supported

[CrayzeeCarl]

Visual Studio 2005 and later is fantastic too.

[Pennywise]

Ahh that makes sense.

I would almost rather pay for the program than deal with ads.

[ra2205]

very impressive of Microsoft, definitely the way to go for Microsoft and all other companys

[Odion]

The amount of money they could make from this is astounding. Imagine the hundreds of millions of people who use Office software on a daily basis. Now imagine how much money you could make from the advertisement from that.

They can't fight google on ads, but the amount of people who use Office will be huge.

[BIGELLOW]

... but for Microsoft, it's a double-edged sword. Sure, this will give them a lot of traffic to sell ads on... but if the advertisers don't follow suit, it'll be a bunch of non-monetized traffic. Google has both the traffic AND the advertisers. If Microsoft can't match Google's traffic, they aren't going to steal away too many advertisers.

Also, Office 2010 may turn out to be Microsoft's YouTube. Just because you have a lot of traffic doesn't mean you can monetize it well. People who go to YouTube are there to see short entertaining videos. They are not necessarily researching something which might lead them to click on an ad. Likewise, someone who is using Office 2010 is not there to constantly leave the application every time a catchy or flashy ad appears. They are much more likely to become ad-blind.

So, while this is great news for consumers, it might not turn out to be such great news for Microsoft. And, if this is the case, it's likely only going to go downhill from there for consumers as Microsoft scrambles for a way to make it (or keep it) profitable.

What is likely going to happen to Office 2010 reminds me of a "free long distance" service a while back. With this service, you called an 800#... and for every 30 second ad you were willing to listen to, you got 2 free minutes of long distance for that call. It was fantastic for consumers. Unfortunately, the service just couldn't support itself. As it buckled under the pressure, the service started degrading until it went away altogether.

Here's hoping that Microsoft finds the magic way to make this a sustainable business model so that consumers can continue to reap the rewards.

[GayStation3]

The PS3 is shyt and this article proves it.

[TheColbertinator]

???

[Fox01]

Hmm...what does this have to do with the PS3?

[II Necroplasm II]

The title uses the 2 words free online

[Gue1]

6 agrees in a comment against the PS3 in Sony land? This guy obviously has multiple accounts, Ban him now!

[cereal_killa]

Whats the matter gaystation did all your other account get droped down to 1 bubble or banned so you had to come back to you other trash account I can't believe 6 other Muppet's put an agree to your comment when it was off topic and nothing but flame bait trash.

[snakebite36]

I'll stick with OpenOffice.

[Jrome]

I really hope you're kidding.

[PirateThom]

I'll also stick with OpenOffice.

Not because "omfg microsucks", but because I don't use the apps enough to be interested in an online version of office.

[CyberCam]

stick will OpenOffice! It's very robust & I can open all documents formats know to man! Unlike the M$ counter part. Good luck trying open a .odt (open document format) file or a .wpd (word perfect document) file with your M$ Office.

Many governments & companies around the world still use both those file formats.

[Cajun Chicken]

This is very nice.

[ForROME]

Well it will be offered for Windows Machines Im sure, and thats prob it.

[Cajun Chicken]

I just thought of the catch...maybe It'll need a *certain* browser.

[f789790]

And you can bet hackers will make it so chrome, firefox, and opera can trick the servers into running office also.

[Delta]

Free? does Microsoft know the meaning "FREE"? If true cool i guess. I personally dont use it.

[f789790]

"Microsoft" and "free" together is a sign of the apocalypse. We can only hope there is something they are not telling us that would save us from this omen.

[OmarJA]

LOL! :D

[poindat]

Open Office is all I need.

[Alcohog]

Its always been free online.

ZING!

[CyberCam]

Very true...good one LOL!!!

[jjesso1993]

microsoft and the word free in the same sentence ??????????

[tuaamin13]

Perhaps you didn't notice, but MS does give large amounts of their software for FREE or significantly reduced cost. You don't think that schools pay $399 per full copy of office, do you? They've got a war chest for subsidizing costs in certain places.

Look at it this way: If you can teach kids early that "this is the way you make a spreadsheet" they're not going to go anywhere else. They'll memorize the formulas, menu locations, etc., go into work one day and request it. That business will buy copies of Office for all their employees.

I believe this may be a collaboration feature but not an entire product based on the web. I prefer to keep my own documents secure, tyvm. I'm not trusting the "cloud" where I have no control of uptime or data security.

[Sayai jin]

Yes, the allow US military members access to free MS software. This is their way of saying thanks to those who keep America safe.

[bob saget remix]

Seriously whats the point of using Microsoft office? When you can get openoffice for free! I barely even know anyone who uses Microsoft office any more.

[Godmars290]

What if this "free" app is bug riddled day-one with a fix months if not years away like some - most - MS paid apps?

[DX F3NIX]

my spidie sense alerts me...theres going to be a catch wait and see.

[TrueGamer71]

And i still have to BUY microsoft office 2007 for college

this world sucks.

[blackbeld]

NOPE, there is also OpenOficce!!!!!!!!! It's same.. but free!!!!!

[GamersMag]

awsome can't wait

[GamersMag]

it amazing that Microsoft did this

[pixelsword]

...google apps. ;)

[GamersMag]

very true but it a first for microsoft

[dredgewalker]

MS? Giving away a free software????? No way....well maybe the software is free but i think theyre gonna charge for the license for you to be able to use it.

[PS360PCROCKS]

F..F..F..free? Wait, Microsoft and free in the same sentence? At least it's cheaper than a night out for pizza for four.

[drewsny]

Even when microsoft does something good, sony fanboys have to find anything wrong. This case is no different, you sony fanboys always have to complain about something. Whats so wrong with some ads as long as the software is free.

[dredgewalker]

Were not talking as fanboys but as consumers who also use Windows and Vista. Nobody even mentioned the 360. And by the way open zone is over there >>>>>>