Snippet: Microsoft Releases Office for iPad ☇

Tom Warren for The Verge:

Just like Office for iPhone, the iPad version will make use of Microsoft’s Office 365 subscription for editing features and will be available to subscribers at no extra cost. However, the iPad version will be free for reading and presenting purposes. That’s a significant change from the original iPhone version, and one that will allow millions of iPad users to make use of Office for viewing documents. At the same time, Office for iPhone is now being updated to make it free for home use.

Word, Excel, and PowerPoint will all be included with Office for iPad, with a ribbon interface that’s similar to the Windows and Mac desktop versions. While Office for iPhone included some basic editing, the iPad version contains a lot more features. Microsoft is promising full file fidelity with the desktop versions, and Office for iPad includes support for re-flowing, formatting, and touch handles.

Although I think Microsoft should have released Office for the iPad a few years ago for it to be relevant, this is a great strategy—anyone can open Office files sent to them and Microsoft has a constant revenue stream. Oh, and apparently Apple is getting the usual 30% for subscriptions made through the app. Win-win?