Even Microsoft ca n’t refuse or ignore the fact that the Mac OS X substance abuser infrastructure is growing . Combined with iPhones and iPads , and the comprehension of the app cultivation in the next release of Mac OS X , Apple platform represent a big , and growing marketplace segment . Perhaps that is why Microsoft is contemplating offering up its Office productivity suite in theMac App Store .
The Mac edition of Microsoft Office has been well - received and is selling nicely . Microsoft could ignore the Mac App Store and rely on the general availability of Microsoft Office 2011 for Mac OS X. It can be downloaded via the Web as a 30 - mean solar day evaluation interpretation , so the package is already only a few dog by for Mac drug user .
But , Microsoft is on the face of it yield serious cerebration to offering the Microsoft Office suitethrough the Mac App Store . All Things Digital ’s Ina Friedquotes Microsoft ’s Amanda Lefebvrestating , “ It ’s something we are look at , ” tote up , “ It ’s something we have n’t ruled out , ” she said . “ We just have to see how that connect to our business . ”
Microsoft might be reluctant to parachute on the Mac App Store bandwagon . Selling Microsoft Office – or any of its components – through the Mac App Store means Microsoft would have to share the wealth with one of its large rivals . Apple ’s 30 percent cut of app sale is not a footling amount and could turn off importantly into Microsoft ’s bottom line .
The option might be worse for Microsoft , though . As Mac substance abuser embrace the app finish and come to rely on the Mac App Store to find the peter they need , the absence of Microsoft Office from the mix could lead many of them to try out option .
Presented a option between accepting a 30 percent cut in revenue , or risking throw that tax income not exist at all , 70 percentage sounds passably good . Plus , Microsoft should be calculate beyond the revenue from Microsoft Office itself , and consider the bigger pictorial matter .
Now that the Mac OS X version of Microsoft Office arrest Outlook , it is more likely that stage business using Mac PCs and notebooks will also be using Microsoft Exchange Server as the backend messaging platform . Microsoft also has a vested interest – as observe above – in assure that exploiter do n’t start acquire alternative platforms and merely supersede Microsoft Office .
I think it would be wise of Microsoft to cover the Mac App Store . In fact , I ’ll take it a tone farther and suggest that it is in Microsoft ’s good interest to distribute apps like Microsoft Office Mobilein all of the app storesand verify its productivity software is ubiquitouslyavailable across iPhone , iPad , Android , BlackBerry , and any other program that comes along .
