Why did Microsoft change the apps to in app purchase?

[Bubble99]

Why did Microsoft change the apps like Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint to in app purchase now?

I'm guessing base on Microsoft new model now that where you had to pay money to download these apps in past that Microsoft is now giving people basic Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint with adds now.

So Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint is now free. But the app purchase get rid of the adds?

Or Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint is basic app and the in app purchase gives the full app?

If so why did Microsoft make that change?

Apps like Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint where never free!!

 

[Phil A.]

As far as I know, the in app purchases are just an alternative way of purchasing an Office 365 subscription. If you have a subscription (either in App or directly with MS) you get full functionality, otherwise it's limited (I think iPads are more limited than iPhones)

 

[MyopicPaideia]

Why did Microsoft change the apps like Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint to in app purchase now?

I'm guessing base on Microsoft new model now that where you had to pay money to download these apps in past that Microsoft is now giving people basic Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint with adds now.

So Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint is now free. But the app purchase get rid of the adds?

Or Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint is basic app and the in app purchase gives the full app?

If so why did Microsoft make that change?

Apps like Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint where never free!!

Are you talking about iOS or macOS versions? If you are talking about the iOS versions, this is the wrong forum!

 

[Bubble99]

As far as I know, the in app purchases are just an alternative way of purchasing an Office 365 subscription. If you have a subscription (either in App or directly with MS) you get full functionality, otherwise it's limited (I think iPads are more limited than iPhones)

Does the free Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint have lot of adds?

But the app purchase in the app get rid of the adds?

 

[Phil A.]

As far as I know there aren't any adverts in them but I have an Office 365 subscription so don't know for sure

 

[Rigby]

Why did Microsoft change the apps like Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint to in app purchase now?

1) Given that Microsoft Office is not available in the Mac app store, you are in the wrong sub-forum.

2) This is not a recent change (buying Office 365 subscriptions via in-app purchase in the iOS apps has been available since 2014).

3) The apps work without a subscription, but a subscription is required to access some advanced functions.

 

[Bubble99]

1) Given that Microsoft Office is not available in the Mac app store, you are in the wrong sub-forum.

2) This is not a recent change (buying Office 365 subscriptions via in-app purchase in the iOS apps has been available since 2014).

3) The apps work without a subscription, but a subscription is required to access some advanced functions.

So the only difference between Office 365 subscriptions and Microsoft Office is Microsoft Office can be view and edited off line. Where Office 365 subscriptions you will need internet for the app to work?

So you will need the internet to use Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint?

But Microsoft Office you don't need internet.

 

[vbctv]

So Office is free on devices under 10 inches in screen size. Only the iPad Pro needs Office 365 to work. But you also get some more advanced features with a 365 subscription on all devices. That's my understanding of it for the past few years.

As far as offline support, remember iOS does not have a file system, so odds are that the files saved on your iPad may be the iCloud in reality. But I have an Office 365 account and I can connect Office to my OneDrive, OneDrive for Business, Box, dropbox & Sharepoint plus there are other options also but I don't use any of them.

 

[DarthVader!]

Office 365 you get to use Office on 5 devices, you get 1 TB of storage and you can share it with 3 family members.

The free version is limited to small screens as mentioned. The online and iOS version offers limited functionality, compared to the desktop version of Office.

 

[Rigby]

So the only difference between Office 365 subscriptions and Microsoft Office is Microsoft Office can be view and edited off line. Where Office 365 subscriptions you will need internet for the app to work?

Editing documents that are only stored locally on your device (as opposed to Onedrive) is one of the features that requires a subscription. And no, you don't need constant connectivity.

So you will need the internet to use Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint?

But Microsoft Office you don't need internet.

You are not making any sense. There is only one version of Office for iOS. You need to log in with a Microsoft account in any case, and if a subscription happens to be active on that account, you get the full functionality.

 

[Bubble99]

Editing documents that are only stored locally on your device (as opposed to Onedrive) is one of the features that requires a subscription. And no, you don't need constant connectivity.
You are not making any sense. There is only one version of Office for iOS. You need to log in with a Microsoft account in any case, and if a subscription happens to be active on that account, you get the full functionality.

From what I understand there three Microsoft office suites the free apps that are really linted, Office 365 subscriptions and the Microsoft office suite you buy where there is no monthly or yearly subscriptions.

There is Office for Mac 2011 this is Microsoft office suite and no monthly or yearly subscription is needed. Where the Office 365 subscriptions is a monthly or yearly subscriptions.

There is also the Office Home & Student 2016 office suite.

The Office 365 is monthly or yearly subscription it is not Office suite you buy and own for life and no subscription needed.

There are number of office suite you can get for or Mac no monthly or yearly subscription is needed.

 

[Rigby]

From what I understand there three Microsoft office suites the free apps that are really linted, Office 365 subscriptions and the Microsoft office suite you buy where there is no monthly or yearly subscriptions.

There is Office for Mac 2011 this is Microsoft office suite and no monthly or yearly subscription is needed. Where the Office 365 subscriptions is a monthly or yearly subscriptions.

So now you are back to Office for Mac (as opposed to iOS). But Office for Mac is not available in the Mac app store, and hence there are no in-app purchases, which was the whole premise of your original post. I give up.

 

[Bubble99]

So now you are back to Office for Mac (as opposed to iOS). But Office for Mac is not available in the Mac app store, and hence there are no in-app purchases, which was the whole premise of your original post. I give up.

You can buy Office for Mac at the Microsoft page.

https://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/cat/Office-for-Mac/categoryID.69404500

You can buy Office 2016 for Mac at Microsoft page.

https://products.office.com/en-us/mac/latest-office-for-mac

You can also check amazon.


Note I'm not sure if Microsoft as office suite for iOS or only have Office 365 subscriptions for iOS and no office suite for iOS?

 

[Rigby]

Note I'm not sure if Microsoft as office suite for iOS or only have Office 365 subscriptions for iOS and no office suite for iOS?

1) iOS: The apps can be downloaded and used for free, but if you have no 365 subscription, some advanced functionality is not available. There is no other version.

2) MacOS: You can either buy a perpetual license of Office for Mac, or use an Office 365 subscription. There is no free version.

3) When using a 365 subscription for either iOS or MacOS apps, you need to activate the apps once by signing in with your Microsoft account. But after that, the apps work offline (i.e. without Internet connectivity), except that the apps occasionally want to check if your subscription is still active.

4) In the iOS apps, you can buy Office 365 subscriptions via in-app purchase. It's exactly the same as buying a subscription elsewhere.

 

[campyguy]

Why did Microsoft change the apps like Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint to in app purchase now?

I run a small company, got an email from MS yesterday but didn't get to it until after midnight (long day…). MS is changing things up with their offerings. There's a new subscription version - Office 365 ProPlus, which should really suit my needs - no ties to any cloud services except those designated by the administrator. Also, the desktop installations (stand-alone licenses) are getting cut off from MS's cloud services in 2020. Digital Trends posted this yesterday, which pretty much sums it up, plus here's the link for the new MS Office offering:

http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/microsoft-changes-office-licensing-and-cloud-access/

https://support.office.com/en-us/ar...e3c-9993-a566f12b1a68?ui=en-US&rs=en-US&ad=US

 

[Bubble99]

1) iOS: The apps can be downloaded and used for free, but if you have no 365 subscription, some advanced functionality is not available. There is no other version.

2) MacOS: You can either buy a perpetual license of Office for Mac, or use an Office 365 subscription. There is no free version.

3) When using a 365 subscription for either iOS or MacOS apps, you need to activate the apps once by signing in with your Microsoft account. But after that, the apps work offline (i.e. without Internet connectivity), except that the apps occasionally want to check if your subscription is still active.

4) In the iOS apps, you can buy Office 365 subscriptions via in-app purchase. It's exactly the same as buying a subscription elsewhere.

So the Microsoft office suite is only available for PC or Mac computer?

With the Microsoft office suite you don't need internet connection for it to work. You can work offline.

 

[Rigby]

So the Microsoft office suite is only available for PC or Mac computer?

If by "office suite" you mean a perpetual license with full functionality, then yes.

With the Microsoft office suite you don't need internet connection for it to work. You can work offline.

I really don't know how I an make this any clearer. All Mac and PC office applications need to be activated over the Internet, and can be used offline after that. This is the case regardless whether you have a perpetual license or an Office 365 subscription. In addition to that, office applications run under a 365 subscription need to connect to the Internet at least once every 30 days to check if the subscription is still active.

 

[Bubble99]

If by "office suite" you mean a perpetual license with full functionality, then yes.
I really don't know how I an make this any clearer. All Mac and PC office applications need to be activated over the Internet, and can be used offline after that. This is the case regardless whether you have a perpetual license or an Office 365 subscription. In addition to that, office applications run under a 365 subscription need to connect to the Internet at least once every 30 days to check if the subscription is still active.

What do you mean by activated.

In old days you gone to the computer store paid for it and put the CD in and loaded it and own it for life. Now with app stores and online stores you should be able to go to website and purchases it and own it for life.

The two links above from the Microsoft page show office suite you can buy.

With 365 subscription you don't own it or buy it!!! It is well more like paying rent to use it. Every year you pay to use it. You do not own it or buy it. You pay to use it.

With the Microsoft office suite you buy it and own it.

You can buy office 2016 for Mac or you can buy office 2011 for Mac. Both are office suite you buy than own.

Microsoft office 365 subscription you don't buy or own it, you pay to use it. And every year have to update your subscription.

Me personally I would not go with the 365 subscription and just buy the office suite and own it.

 

[vbctv]

What do you mean by activated.

In old days you gone to the computer store paid for it and put the CD in and loaded it and own it for life. Now with app stores and online stores you should be able to go to website and purchases it and own it for life.

The two links above from the Microsoft page show office suite you can buy.

With 365 subscription you don't own it or buy it!!! It is well more like paying rent to use it. Every year you pay to use it. You do not own it or buy it. You pay to use it.

With the Microsoft office suite you buy it and own it.

You can buy office 2016 for Mac or you can buy office 2011 for Mac. Both are office suite you buy than own.

Microsoft office 365 subscription you don't buy or own it, you pay to use it. And every year have to update your subscription.

Me personally I would not go with the 365 subscription and just buy the office suite and own it.

You won't be able to just buy & own it after 2020. It's already been made clear that Microsoft is going away from that method and going all in with 365.

 

[Rigby]

What do you mean by activated.

In old days you gone to the computer store paid for it and put the CD in and loaded it and own it for life.

On the first start after installation you need to enter an activation code which is verified over the Internet. It has been like this for years.

Now with app stores and online stores you should be able to go to website and purchases it and own it for life.

That's why it's called a perpetual license.

With 365 subscription you don't own it or buy it!!! It is well more like paying rent to use it. Every year you pay to use it. You do not own it or buy it. You pay to use it.

Yes. But you also get more value. For example with the Home subscription you can install it on up to 5 computers (only 1 with the perpetual license), you can use it on both MacOS and Windows (perpetual license is only for one OS), continuous updates (while the perpetual version will eventually not be updated anymore), and a number of other benefits such as 1TB of Onedrive space.

Me personally I would not go with the 365 subscription and just buy the office suite and own it.

That's your decision. I was just answering your question regarding the connectivity requirements.

 

[r03dz]

With Office 365 you are getting new features on a monthly basis, whereas with the boxed version you received features every 3-4 years. If you do the math it ends up being cheaper to just purchase O365 as opposed to forking out a lump sum every box ship cycle.

 

[Bubble99]

On the first start after installation you need to enter an activation code which is verified over the Internet. It has been like this for years.
That's why it's called a perpetual license.
.

What happen to the product key or security key? That use to be on CD? You enter when loading the CD doing the install process?
[doublepost=1493449197][/doublepost]

With Office 365 you are getting new features on a monthly basis, whereas with the boxed version you received features every 3-4 years. If you do the math it ends up being cheaper to just purchase O365 as opposed to forking out a lump sum every box ship cycle.

A $100 dollars every year is lot of money. May be if it was $50 a year for home use.

And if you don't trust Microsoft with internet connection full time there is nothing stopping Microsoft from seeing all you work that you do office.

If privacy is concern it is well best to avoid cloud storage service, Microsoft OS like windows, One drive and bing.