Microsoft has always charged everyone for its desktop suits, be it for Windows or Mac OS X whereas apps for Google’s Android, Apple’s iOS and its own Windows Phones were free to create and edit documents.
Well, that will not be happening with the new iPad Pro. Microsoft Office for iPad Pro will not be free to use. Users can download the apps from App store on iPad, but functionality will be reduced for Microsoft Office for iPad users unless they sign in with their Office 365 subscription. Documents can be viewed and printed for free but to create or edit them you must have a subscription of Microsoft Office 365.
Why iPad Pro won’t have Free Microsoft Office?
Microsoft Word for iPad Pro | Image: Apple
the reason of Microsoft office for iPad not being free is dead simple. Microsoft does not count any device having more than 10.1″ screen size as a mobile device. iPad Pro has a 12.9″ screen which is bigger than the accepted limit. Whereas other iPads and iPhones do not cross the size barrier which is why they are free to use. Even as Apps for iPad do not have all features of their a desktop counterparts, Microsoft require you to have a Office 365 subscription to edit and create documents.
Microsoft Office 365 costs $6.99 monthly or $99.99 per year, and it gives user 1TB of OneDrive storage and 60 Skype Minutes per month along with the permission of installing Microsoft Office suite in upto 5 devices.
Considering it not being a bad deal, Microsoft hopes that iPad Pro sales will also result in more Office 365 Subscribers.
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