AppleInsider Staff
Microsoft on Thursday announced Office for iPad downloads hit the 12 million mark after just one week of availability, illustrating pent-up demand for an iPad port of the software giant's productivity suite.
After a highly-anticipated debut last week, the Microsoft Office for iPad apps have collectively notched 12 million downloads, according to a tweet from Microsoft's dedicated @Office handle.
The Office suite, including Microsoft Word for iPad, Microsoft Excel for iPad and Microsoft PowerPoint for iPad, rocketed to the top of Apple's iOS App Store charts one day after launch. Currently, the apps stand one-two-three at the top of the iPad App Store's free app rankings, with the go-along Microsoft OneNote for iPad sitting in sixth.
Microsoft's new iPad apps are "freemium" offerings as each requires an in-app subscription purchase to unlock full software capabilities. For Office, users can view documents for free, but need to have an Office 365 subscription to make edits.
Just like other apps distributed through the iOS App Store, Microsoft Office is subject to Apple's usual 30 percent cut of in-app purchases. With Office 365 prices pegged at $99 per year or $9.99 per month, combined with the large number of downloads, Office for iPad apps are among the top grossing titles in the App Store.
Andrew Orr
Amber Neely
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
46 Comments
...but, but, but all the white-box Android tablets.
But how many of those are actually paying Microsoft to really use the apps vs. "just tryin' it out cause it's free"?
I'm not surprised. I downloaded OneNote before the whole Office suite was available and love it, but I have no interest in MS word processor or spreadsheet app. I'll stick with Pages and Numbers.
Well, this should not really hurt MS, as other resellers seem to take about the same (or higher) cut. Amazon sells the Home Premium package for 63 Euros here, and there are various other vendors listing it for below 70 Euros, while the in-app purchase is the most expensive option by far at 99 Euros.
An addict and their smack are not easily parted. Thats all I am saying.