Microsoft excels with Office for iPad…

Addressing the industry at the intersection of cloud and mobile, Satya Nadella embarked on one of his first tasks as new Microsoft CEO.

"Microsoft is focused on delivering the cloud for everyone, on every device," said the talismanic leader, referring to the launch of Microsoft Office for iPad earlier this year, which has stolen the productivity crown from the hands of Apple.

Refusing to restrict the universally popular Office software to Windows users alone, Redmond's move into the Apple App Store signals a shift of momentum in the productivity space.

Taking on Apple's free iWork apps, Office for iPad full file fidelity across Office on PC, Mac, tablet and phone, beautifully wrapped in a user-friendly iOS aesthetic.

With a staggering 27 million downloads just 46 days after launch, Office for iPad continues to send shockwaves around the Apple community, providing Redmond's fastest-growing commercial product to the wider market.

Unmistakably Office it remains, but in building the app from the ground up for iPad, Microsoft has factored in the unique nature of touch and functionality native to iPad, along with what people most commonly want to do on a tablet.

"We tell the whole value of Office 365, and Office for iPad is one of the apps which come with the subscription," says Julia White, Microsoft's Office general manager, when quizzed by The Channel at WPC 2014 in July.

"There are no specific support practices in place with Apple but it's our job to ensure the channel is fully equipped to sell every flavour of Office, irrelevant of what it is.

A recent survey of 3,500 iPad users reports 53% would pay $100 to use Office on their iPad, emphasising the great momentum currently with Microsoft and its Office brand.

"We've enjoyed a great response to the app and it's exciting to be in a position to constantly respond to feedback and make changes accordingly," White adds.

Office subscriptions…

When you purchase Microsoft Office 365, you get a number of licenses. These can then extend to PC's, Mac's and mobile devices like iPad.

There are three key Office 365 versions – Office University, Office 365 Personal and Office 365 Home.

Personal and Home versions are a simple monthly subscription fee, while the University is a 4 year subscription.

The number of licenses you have depends upon the version chosen. Personal includes two computers or devices, while Home includes 5 computers and 5 mobile devices.

Cleverly an administrator gets setup with the Home version to control which computers and devices get allocated a license.

Check out the breakdown below…

To buy Office for iPad visit www.acquire.co.nz