Microsoft May Bring Office to the App Store
Microsoft is apparently tentatively considering bringing Office for Mac to Apple’s Mac App Store.
Microsoft has said it is considering making Office for Mac, or some Office products, available via the App Store. Speaking to All Things D’s Ina Fried, the company said that though the software is already available via numerous other channels, it hasn’t ruled out bringing it to the Mac App Store.
“It’s something we are looking at,” Amanda Lefebvre told Mobilized. “It’s something we haven’t ruled out,” she said. “We just have to see how that relates to our business.”
While users may have to wait a while before they can download MS Office products from the Mac App Store, it’s important to remember that it’s still very early days for the digital distribution platform. Though it was announced way back in October, it was only launched on January 6.
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Hell has apparently frozen over.
microsoft is a software company above all else, and the office suite is their second biggest selling item (after windows) so it makes complete sense for them to push office into as many markets and distribution channels as possible... office has been a big seller on the mac platform for years...
if you go on the apple store, and click on the "shop mac" (UK site), mircosoft office is the third best selling product, behind the external cd drive for the air, and the mouse, so it's the best selling piece of mac software, period....! so it should definitely make it to the app store..
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mircosoft office is the ... best selling piece of mac software, period....! so it should definitely make it to the app store..
The only reason it wouldn't is if Microsoft wants to try and stop the app store taking hold. If a competing Mac specialist application distribution source exists or is being set up then Microsoft might want to throw its weight behind that and only put Office onto the Apple one if it did gain traction.
Add in some comments saying that Apple's one is insecure or has some major flaw for added effect and if they want a fight over nothing much with Apple.
"if microsoft wants to try and stop the app store taking hold...." Microsoft's prime objective is to shift as many copies of their software as possible, so that means they should offer it for sale through as many channels as possible....
you do get exclusivity arrangements (think apple with at&t and with o2 here in the uk)... but eventually, to maximise sales you need to offer your product through more channels, hence the ending of such exclusivity deals in the case of the iphone...
never forget that microsoft simply want to sell their software, where they sell it is of little importance in the long run...!