Dear Microsoft, Don't Let Office for Android, iOS be Too Little, Too Late

reports rumors and sightings of a reduced capability Windows, shown below.  They state:

Office Mobile will debut in the form of free apps that allow Android and iOS users to view Microsoft Office documents on the move. Like the existing SkyDrive and OneNote apps, Office Mobile will require a Microsoft account. On first launch, a Microsoft account will provide access to the basic viewing functionality in the apps. Word, PowerPoint, and Excel documents will all be supported, and edit functionality can be enabled with an Office 365 subscription. Microsoft will allow iOS users to purchase an Office 365 subscription within the app, or let organizations distribute codes to enable Office Mobile editing for users. The apps will allow for basic editing, but we’re told this won’t go very far in attempting to replace regular full use of a desktop Office version.

  I think this is just an awful idea and I hope it’s not true. Few Android or iOS users will bother with either the “viewing” app or the dumbed down one OR the prospect of subscriptions.  Just who thought this mess up? Paradoxically a fully functioning, affordable Office App is likely to have positive spillover effects for Windows 8 tablets, or at the very worst, neutral.  My advice: Do it now and do it right, while there are still revenues to be had. What do you think?]]>