BBC's Richard Taylor takes a first look at Office for iPad
Microsoft has started offering an iPad edition of its Office software suite.
It was announced at the first launch event hosted by Satya Nadella since he became chief executive of the firm.
Three separate productivity apps are available
- Word, Excel and Powerpoint - each of which has been optimised for
touch-based controls, making them easier to use than the web-based
alternatives provided before.
The firm has faced criticism for not offering the software until now.
Mr Nadella said that the announcement was part of a strategy
to empower people "to be productive across all devices" with Microsoft
software.
Microsoft's new chief presented his first launch in San Francisco
"We are taking great focus and great care to make sure Office
on any device shines through," he said, indicating that his firm would
release versions of the apps for other mobile devices in the future.
App rivals
Office remains Microsoft's cash cow, accounting for $16.2bn
(£9.7bn) - or just over 60% - of Microsoft's operating profit in its
last financial year. But some believe that sum could have been larger.
"It was definitely a major mistake to wait - an example of
the insular old-world thinking of Steve Ballmer and his management team
that believed everything should be within a Windows ecosystem," said
Chris Green, from the Davies Murphy Group consultancy.
"In today's multi-device environment, where Windows is no
longer the all dominant platform it once was, that game plan doesn't
work anymore. The fact Microsoft is now catching up is only going to be a
good thing and will be to the benefit of the Office applications."
The iPhone version has attracted a relatively low review
score from Apple's App Store users, many of whom complained about its
cost - it required an Office 365 subscription sold for £80 a year - and
missing features.
Meanwhile other apps - including Documents to Go, HopTo,
Quickoffice, Google's business web apps and Apple's iWork suite - have
prospered offering free or cheaper alternatives that can load and alter
files originally created by Office.
