Microsoft Office App Download – Tops Apple / Android App Store – Negative for Microsoft Surface Tablet ?

Microsoft Office Top App Download on iStoreMicrosoft’s Office Apps have been at the top of the free download category on Apple’s App Store. Microsoft Office Mobile also ranked as the second-most-popular app for free download under the Productivity category on Android Play Store. Microsoft CEO, Satya Nadela announced that Office would be available on “all devices”, including those for Android tablets in future. Microsoft seems to have got the much needed break in the Mobile War opening its Treasure and changing its business strategy to make money on converging Software, Storage Access & Services across Devices.

How will Opening Microsoft Office impact its own Surface Tablet ?
The ability of content creation on Apple iPad could cannibalise sales of high-end Windows tablet / hybrid devices sold under the Surface brand. Windows tablet are attractive to consumers who place more importance on the combination of mobility and compatibility with a Windows environment over apps ecosystem support. With the availability of Microsoft Office on the iPad (now) and Android tablets (in near future), consumers no longer have to compromise when choosing Microsoft’s Surface in order to have access to the full Office suite. This is especially true given the premium pricing of Surface Pro 2.

iPad Pro to be Likely Winner in Near Term
A 12-13″ iPad Pro is in the development phase for official launch in 1H 2015. It is widely speculated that iPad Pro will allow multi-tasking and multiple-windows, making productivity functions easier to manage. The bigger screen size together with the multi-window function should bode well for the usage model of Office on a large-sized iPad Pro.

The mainstream of Android tablets in the market today is the 7-8″ model, making use of Office software difficult. Android captured this market cannibalizing the netbook where sales have fallen by 60% since the peak in 2010. It’d be interesting to see how Microsoft Office or any other Productivity Suite plays on Chromebook.