- Microsoft seems to be experimenting with ad supported Office Desktop apps
- They are limited in their functionality and require OneDrive -Sync
- Words, Excel and PowerPoint could go for free
Microsoft seems to have released free versions of its Core Office apps – Word, Excel and PowerPoint – though supported by ads and limited in their functionality.
The change was first stained by BeebomThere, they revealed the free desktop apps, show a lasting banner ad, as well as a 15-second video ad playing “every few hours.”
However, the company is already encrypted to clarify the launch is just a test in which a Microsoft spokesman says there were “no plans” for a wider launch.
Microsoft is quietly launching ad supported office apps
“Microsoft has conducted a certain limited test,” a spokesman for the company told PCWorld. “Currently, there are no plans to launch a free, ad-supported version of Microsoft Office Desktop Apps.”
Users who want to access the Free Office software will also note that local file editing is not supported and that they will be led to save files on OneDrive.
To access the free apps, users need to skip the registration prompt and then accept to save their files in Microsoft’s cloud storage system OneDrive.
When they are not cost, these three free apps will be more limited in their functionality, missing certain tools such as additions, dictates, smartarts, advanced formatting and turning tables. Apps seem to connect a space between the fully -built desktop apps and the even more limited online web apps.
Beebom Noticed that the free Desktop apps are at least only available to Windows users, but they can still be used offline despite the requirement to save files in OneDrive.
Downloading the free apps is exactly the same as downloading the full apps, just that users will skip the log instant that would otherwise get them access to all features.
In terms of availability, some users have reported that they are unable to access the free versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint, which suggests it could be in a test phase, which adds that Microsoft has not formally announced Something about the matter. In addition, there is no Mac equivalent (yet).
In context, Microsoft recently raised the prices of consumer 365 subscriptions, so this could be one of the ways that justifies the change.
A spokesman for the company confirmed with Techradar Pro In an email: “Microsoft has completed some limited tests. Currently, there are no plans to launch a free, ad-supported version of Microsoft Office Desktop Apps.”
