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Microsoft Office: An Advertising Platform [pcworld.com]We may see an ad-supported version of Microsoft Office after all. Yesterday, at the Morgan Stanley Technology Conference in San Francisco, Microsoft Business Division president Stephen Elop said Microsoft would release an ad-supported version of Microsoft Office 14 -- Office 14 is expected to hit stores in 2010. Elop said the purpose behind releasing a free version of Microsoft Office with ads displayed alongside the workspace was to draw "pirate customers into the revenue stream." "We want to draw them into the Windows family," Elop said, according to Silicon Valley Insider. "And maybe there's an up sell opportunity later."
The idea of an ad-supported version of Microsoft Office is nothing new, and is one concept that has been considered alongside Albany -- the code name for a subscription-based model of Microsoft Office. What Elsop didn't mention was what an ad-supported version of Office would look like, but it's safe to suspect it would be a stripped-down version of the complete software suite.
We have been steadily shifting to OpenOffice and enjoying the myriad of extensions for it.
I'm really struggling with the advertising concept. SO many questions, but the first is delivery.
Office 14 is expected to hit stores in 2010
So, I develop an ad and send it over to Microsoft and pay them. My ad gets rolled into the software and it gets packaged and put on a shelf in a store somewhere? A Microsoft store [webmasterworld.com]? How do I know I've reached my target market?
Yes, there are alternative office suite software packages available but let's keep this discussion focused on the MS offering. It's free, it's ad-supported, and ultimately the goal is to generate revenue.
Our point in mentioning alternatives is that they are about 5 years late with this product as free version have already caught up and are taking hold... I for one would not switch back to a MS ad-supported product 2 years from now (or later) when it finally comes out...
It is also worth mentioning that Google already has ad-supported office software that is also available via the web.
So it is very relevant. I applaud them for the decision. But as always, Microsoft is a day late to the party.
Has their business model eroded so much that it has come to this?
Not to go off topic, but I see this as a way of clawing back users who have moved to other free office suites simple because they have been priced out. Making something has to be better than making nothing. The upsell opportunity will also be a key. If MS can get these users back to the MS office way of thinking they may well upgrade. Microsoft have offered free versions of a lot of their software tools for quite some time (express versions) with some functionality removed. This may be the way Microsoft aims to upsell.
Ad sales will be very interesting. how will they target the ads. Will it be related to what you're doing or will it reflect something else. Microsoft have got some great ad targeting technology. for example how offten have you been talking to someone in live messenger and notice the small text ad at the bottom it very much on target to the conversation. It will be interesting to read the privacy policy Microsoft bundles with the ad supported version of office.
Mack.
The open source OpenOffice can open Office 2007 and even .pdf files.
Why would I want a 'freeware' version of Office with ads and tracking cookies when I can use a better product that is constantly developed, upgraded, and has free productivity extensions --- and has no spyware?
I for one would not switch back to a MS ad-supported product 2 years from now (or later) when it finally comes out...
The gap may be closing with free alternatives, but MS Office is still far ahead of any other offering out there. Also, if you're doing work with a major corporation there's no way I'd use anything but MS Office for compatibility. It's fine to use free stuff for the SOHO or small office, but when you're playing with the big boys you have to use the grownup tools. ;)
The BS part about Office 2007 is that Office 2003 or Office 1997 can't open Office 2007 documents. You have to upgrade in order to do so.
I'm sure this is more a reaction to Google Docs and openOffice than "pirates"
Wrong.
Microsoft has always provided free converter packs for users of earlier versions of Office. Office 2007 is no different.
You are wrong and you missed the point.
1) Previous Office versions are not compatible with Office 2007 and require you to download additional software.
OpenOffice works right out of the box and is compatible with 2007 documents.
Why would MS make it more difficult for users in compatibility between their product versions? Money.
2) Even when you download the converter pack for previous versions of Office, most of the time you can open the document but not manipulate the data.
What good is that?
But... OpenOffice allows you to do so, Microsoft's own expensive product does not. Why?
For a chart on what items MS intentionally inhibited previous versions of Office from manipulating, see this:
Although you can open Office Word 2007 files in previous versions of Word, you may not be able to change some items that were created by using the new or enhanced features in Office Word 2007.
[office.microsoft.com...]
We used to call those Malware.
And I still do.
1) Previous Office versions are not compatible with Office 2007 and require you to download additional software.
Well, yes, MS Office software released prior to Office 2007 does require a download for a compatibility patch. You got me there. It's called an update in most cases.
OpenOffice works right out of the box and is compatible with 2007 documents.
You haven't applied an update to OpenOffice since 2006? Come on! Be realistic. They put an update in there that made the product compatible with Office 2007...That doesn't make open source better than MS. It's what every software development project does. They update as they go along and make themselves compatible with older versions when necessary.
2) Even when you download the converter pack for previous versions of Office, most of the time you can open the document but not manipulate the data.
What good is that?
Perhaps if you gave us some specific examples of data incompatibility that you've had we could help. I've worked with global corporate installations of Office since it came out, and I know a little about incompatibility problems among the different versions. Generally the MS provided upgrades are sufficient. I can manipulate Office 2007 data with Office 2003, XP and 2000 in most cases with the given converters.
Ads in an office app will simply never ever fly.
Ever used Gmail at work? Yeah, that's got ads on it.
In a corporate environment you're absolutely right, ads won't cut it, but in reality a corporation would not be using this version of Office.
This version of Office is letting MS pull in the non-legitimate users along with those who can't afford a full blown copy of Office.
As for older versions of office not working with 2007... not true. MS offers converters that (so far) have been effective.
Office 2007 = a training nightmare for any corporations trying to "reteach" employees how to use and find common features in past versions of Office. OpenOffice has a closer resemblance to past versions of MS Office.
Windows Vista = A flop, hardware hog, and aesthetically a ripoff of Linux.
Bad decision, after bad decision....
Within the next couple of years more and more people and businesses will jump ship as they are now. You will see the rise of Linux and MAC eventually overtake Microsoft. It's not a matter of "if". It's a matter of "when".
You will see the rise of Linux and MAC eventually overtake Microsoft
Judging by the constant problems we have at work getting Macs to function alongside Windows I can't see it happening for a good few decades yet.
Emphasis mine:
Although you can open Office Word 2007 files in previous versions of Word, you may not be able to change some items that were created by using the new or enhanced features in Office Word 2007.
Come on guys. How do you expect previous software written without these new features to work with them? Each new version of Office adds new stuff. Are MS supposed to rewrite earlier versions to work with the new ideas? It's like trying to make a VHS machine play DVDs.
One new feature was the XML format for files, eg: .docx - to open such files in older Office programs all you have to do is download a patch. But don't expect all the benefits of the new format to be there in the older versions of Office!
why would a pirate customers switch to a toned down, ad supported software, when he is already enjoying the software for free?
Stick and carrot approach. If you are not aware, Microsoft is being very aggressive in going after pirated copies of Windows/ Office etc.
Come 2010, they can give these pirates an easier option.
I know Excel gets better and better all the time. You can even search fo cells with formatting in them, such as red text. As for the ribbon bar, you soon get used to it. Anything is better than the mess of menus they had before. Of course people don't like change so they try it and want to go back to the old version straight away. My advice is to stick with it and enjoy all the new features while you do.
however, i think it may annoy some people who have bought copies of office and have to put with ads. they may want to incorporate an option to operate office ad-free after validation.
however, i think it may annoy some people who have bought copies of office and have to put with ads. they may want to incorporate an option to operate office ad-free after validation.
Clearly, Opera couldn't make any real money from this model and that was with a product that required an internet connection to function. With an office product (that should be able to operate without an internet connection) an advert-supported version sounds nonsensical.
Microsoft would do better simply producing free minimalist versions of its Office apps without any adverts. That said, I doubt this would improve their balance sheets either.
Kaled.