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    The Week

    Are Microsoft and Apple teaming up to 'destroy' Android?

    By The Week's Editorial Staff | The Week – Fri, Feb 24, 2012
    Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are reportedly coming to the iPad — but not to Google's tablets

    Earlier this week, The Daily published photographs that seemed to confirm the long-standing rumor that Microsoft Office is coming to Apple's iPad. (Microsoft denies that the leaked images are real, but hasn't denied the existence of the project.) Of course, Apple and Microsoft have a long, contentious history that dates back decades. But bringing Microsoft's flagship software to the iPad — which is poised to easily surpass sales of 50 million tablets this year — would put their common rival, Google, at a competitive disadvantage, because "an Android version of Office is not in the works," said Matt Hickey at The Daily. Could putting the world's most popular productivity software on the world's most popular tablet cripple Google's tablet business?

    It sure sounds like it: "Apple and Microsoft both hate Google far more than they hate one another," says MG Siegler at Parislemon, and it's in the best interest of both companies to "do whatever it takes to destroy Android." Making Office an iPad-exclusive offering would give consumers even fewer reasons to choose Google's tablets. My guess is we'll hear an official announcement on this partnership in the coming weeks.
    "What if… (Office for iPad edition)"

    And this would be a win-win: In the '90s, "Microsoft had to scratch and think before making Office for the Mac," assuming it wouldn't sell more than a couple million copies a year to Apple users, says Dan Frommer atSplatF. This time around, it's a no brainer. For Apple, it means being able to say "the iPad runs the world." For Microsoft, it means "potentially tens of millions of Office buyers." It's clear that "Microsoft cares about remaining the go-to office suite. To do that though, it must now support the iPad."
    "iPad + Office + Apple + Microsoft: Why it all makes sense"

    Huh? This would be huge mistake: How would making Office iPad-only help Microsoft? says Preston Gralla at Computerworld. "Windows is no longer Microsoft's cash cow, and if Microsoft is to succeed, it needs to compete on all platforms." Android is still the most popular mobile operating system out there, and bringing Office to Google's platform gives Microsoft more customers, and could actually help fight off Google Docs. Google may well be "Public Enemy #1 at Microsoft," but it would still be a mistake to diss Android.
    "Office on the iPad release shows Microsoft's #1 enemy is Google, not Apple"


    SEE MORE: H.P.'s 'dismal' TouchPad failure: 3 lessons

    View this article on TheWeek.com Get 4 Free Issues of The Week

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    47 comments

    • Jonathan R
      Jonathan R  •  Atlanta, Georgia  •  2 mths ago
      Why not do both. There, now you get all the money possible.
    • Red_flair
      Red_flair  •  2 mths ago
      Open source is the threat and they cannot stand the heat. Android, Linux, BSD, is here to stay and will grow. Open Office is incredible. Try it and you will never go back. Open source is what made America what it is, it is the start of technology, it is why we have advanced so rapidly in the last 40 years. With out open source technology is dead. Innovation is the basis of open source. Microsoft and Apple are likened to our government, any thing with some inspiration is suspect.
      • Biggles or Wiggly
        Biggles or Wiggly 2 mths ago
        I tried Open Office, stuck with it for 2 years before giving up and going back to Microsoft. OO is buggy, slow and forever "updating". I've come to loathe Microsoft since their top executive called for "internet driving licenses" (using Microsoft tech of course) but as a professional I'll stick with Office.OO remains an also-ran and the inferior choice. Sorry but it just does.
      • someone
        someone 2 mths ago
        I do prefer OO over M. office. its not perfect, but after finally learning where all the commands are on the older M. Office, it changed. I like OO because it does use the classic menu look. i don't have to guess where they stuck this command or that one. i don't use M. Office enough to warrant going through the menus (or tabs) again. And its open source; i know enough Java to change what i want on it. i usually ignore the updates. I do, however, keep both on my PC
    • tHe_hOoLiGaN
      tHe_hOoLiGaN  •  2 mths ago
      Google Docs will punish Microsoft for their foolish decision to go iPad only with Office.
    • Joe
      Joe  •  3 mths ago
      Excel on an iPad? Really? For what, a shopping list? I cannot imagine doing real Excel work on a 10" screen without a keyboard.
      • Curv
        Curv 3 mths ago
        So buy a keyboard you ape. I own one for my iPad, works amazingly well.
      • Gordon Ramsay
        Gordon Ramsay 3 mths ago
        Keyboard for an iPAD? Too funny, you Apple sheeple. Just use a notebook...
      • Marshall M
        Marshall M 3 mths ago
        For the price of an iFad and a keyboard, you can buy a laptop with a blu-ray player/DVD burner, great graphics card, quad-core cpu. Why buy the iFad? Just to show the world that you can jump on a bandwagon for some soon-to-be antiquated social status?
    • Askme
      Askme  •  Columbus, Ohio  •  3 mths ago
      People buy anything , 1st they say buy pcs, then they say buy note books, then its laptops, now its tablets. get a life and quit being led around by the latest gadget because big apple or big Microsoft says buy it
      • YahooUser
        YahooUser 3 mths ago
        Here in the Silicon Valley the latest gadgets are status symbols. They are supposed to be highly educated. Really? Gullible is all I say. Sick of friends and colleagues always talking about latest fads. Guys are not supposed to be into this comparison stuff.
      • Dan_G
        Dan_G 3 mths ago
        Guys in the Bay Area are. Mostly because they want to be like the girls.
      • FredW
        FredW 3 mths ago
        I know it's crazy... first people bought music on records, then 8-tracks, then cassettes, then cd's, then in mp3 format. Will they never learn?
    • tony
      tony  •  3 mths ago
      I vote Open Office on Android. It's free.
    • TonyM
      TonyM  •  Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  •  2 mths ago
      If Microsoft want to put Office on the iPad, they had better go back to the 2003 pull-down menu system, which was far easier to navigate than the Ribbon and took up far less screen real estate.
    • Elmer
      Elmer  •  Topeka, Kansas  •  3 mths ago
      This does not surprise me- open source options have improved to became a legit threat to proprietary versions. I'd say a merger is more a matter of 'when'.
      • Graham
        Graham 3 mths ago
        A merger is unlikely unless the Tea Party wins. No sane government would allow one company to dominate the world computer market the way a merged Apple-MS company would. On the other hand, we're one election away from anarcho-capitalistic hell so anything is possible.
    • Tikibobo
      Tikibobo  •  Hayden, Idaho  •  2 mths ago
      Honestly? I-Anything will not pass my front door. Apple products except the real apple, are juist way to expensive. Who the H is dumb enough to pay 400 - 600 for one of these stupid phones? Oh, and get stuck with a huge fee called a mandatory 2 year contract. At the least, I own a very inexpensive Net10 that serves me my purpose. Oh, and there is no contract. If I need to do more then I use my computer. Get real Apple, lower your prices. Microsoft, don't give in to those fools.
    • YouBee
      YouBee  •  3 mths ago
      MS Office is already dead for me, since the docs came in.
    • Dan
      Dan  •  3 mths ago
      Android can just get Open Office - it's better AND it's free.
      • Biggles or Wiggly
        Biggles or Wiggly 2 mths ago
        It's not "better", it's merely almost as good, which is impressive for a phone, that's all. Seriously, you Americans really need to work on language skills and the use of words...
      • Dan
        Dan 2 mths ago
        Anyone who has used Open Office knows that it is, indeed, better (and I am using the word "better" properly here.)
    • Topkick
      Topkick  •  3 mths ago
      I'm not as "computer literate" as MANY of you appear to be. The computer, and it's various "apps," are simply tools to me. So, in my "ignorance," I think in terms with which I am familiar. And this whole jockeying and sharing seems like business as usual to me. Competitors forming alliances that they view as beneficial to their growth and profit margins, and harmful to the aspirations of others. In my experience, however, these Machiavellian attempts often backfire, and come back to haunt their perpetrators. The intended victim becomes more inventive in the face of reality, and builds a "better mousetrap." Proving once again that "Necessity IS the mother of Invention." And, hopefully, we consumers benefit!
    • Marshall M
      Marshall M  •  3 mths ago
      I prefer open-source software like Android and OpenOffice, but it is still a PC world, and Apple and its religious 20-something followers is still no threat to changing that. There are still too many things that iOS is not interested in allowing you to do. Windows 8 on PCs, Tablets, and Phones will be a serious threat to Android and to all the Apple toys.
    • Richard
      Richard  •  3 mths ago
      Why would ANYONE waste their money on MS Office? I've been using OpenOffice for years. It works great, and it's FREE!! And don't forget about Google Docs. I'll use that $200 instead to treat myself to something nice...like food or a couple of tanks of gas!!
    • Richard Steiner
      Richard Steiner  •  3 mths ago
      Well, Intel is distributing (and writing code for) OpenOffice, so perhaps Android plus an OpenOffice/LibreOffice variant will provide a good alternative.
    • Not a fan of BP
      Not a fan of BP  •  Houston, Texas  •  2 mths ago
      Android is not a single mobile operating system. MS would have do develop for multiple versions of Android. Unless it is all cloud based. Plus most of the platforms the author is referring too are phones which won't benefit from MS Office. Or actually, MS Office won't benefit from them in terms of sales.
    • fendermatt
      fendermatt  •  Mt Hamilton, California  •  3 mths ago
      MS Office for Xbox?
    • Samuel Winchester
      Samuel Winchester  •  Santa Ana, California  •  2 mths ago
      I no a lot of former I-Phone owners who now only buy phones running Android. the biggest thing that sets Android well above MS or Apples OS is the ability to modify the OS like removing bloatware and still have a phone that works or if the battery needs replacing on most if not all Android phones you pull out the old battery and replace it, the I-phone on the other hand requires you to either take your phone into a apple store or mail it in to have it repaired for a fee on labor plus parts. Google docs is a really good office suit and it's free it's not going to set you back $150.00 or more.
    • Eddie
      Eddie  •  Virginia Beach, Virginia  •  2 mths ago
      OpenOffice or LibreOffice, or AbiWord. MS compatible, good quality & free. Microsoft who?
    • PJ
      PJ  •  3 mths ago
      This is laughable. It took the death of a tyrant Czar (Jobs) to maybe bring these competitors together. Apple had better be careful Gates has a big stinger. The only thing that would bring them together is money they want it all.
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