Microsoft is preparing a new version of Office without a subscription. A small event as the firm has been pushing its Office subscription offers through Microsoft 365 for years instead of applications that can be installed on PC and Mac through a single license purchase.
Microsoft reveals it in a blog post on the next version of Exchange Server: the firm is about to launch a new version of its “hard” Office suite for PC and Mac. A variation of Word, Excel, and Powerpoint that will only require a one-time license acquisition - instead of a monthly subscription to Microsoft 365, the cloud-based office suite with access to OneDrive, Skype Teams, and PC / Mac apps.
Microsoft explains in fact on its blog: “Microsoft Office will also be entitled to a new perpetual version on Windows and Mac, in the second half of 2021“.
The arrival of an update of the perpetual sequel was not yet acquired. The Redmond firm has been pushing its Microsoft 365 suite in the cloud for years. This includes a free version that can be used like Google Drive, in the browser. The subscription gives access to versions of Word, Excel and Powerpoint which can be installed on PC and Mac.
The firm had also recently launched Office 2019, a version with a perpetual license sold between 149 euros and 579 euros depending on the variants - without access to OneDrive. Before torpedoing the three videos his own program to better highlight Microsoft 365.
It remains to be seen what Microsoft is preparing in detail with the Office 2021 suite. For the time being, the company prefers not to give further details but promises to say more in the near future.
Microsoft could for example better integrate its “hard” suite with its cloud services and perhaps the Android and iOS versions of its applications. The info reassures us in any case:
Microsoft has not planned to switch completely to a subscription model. Something to delight those who are tired of paying ten euros per month for each service and program that the net counts. At least with a perpetual license, you don't risk losing access to your applications if you decide to stop paying ...