Office Mobile to come as an optional download?

Reuben Lee | Oct 24, 2007

Heard from a Microsoft representative at the recent Motorola Q 9h launch in Singapore. According to the source, smart phone users will be able to download the Office Mobile application and run it alongside whatever Office viewer/reader already preinstalled in the device. We even had a demo of a Q 9h unit with both the Documents To Go (which is the default Office application for the handset) and Office Mobile installed. We were told that this standalone version of the Office Mobile, which will support the latest Office 2007 files, is expected to be available as an optional download from Microsoft before the end of this year.

There was no mention of whether the Office Mobile download will be available for other versions of the Windows Mobile 6 (WM6) OS other than the Standard edition for smart phones. Nor could we get a fix on the price for the Office Mobile download.

One thing's for sure. Once Office Mobile becomes an optional addon, most smart phone manufacturers will probably choose not to include it in as part of the software package in a bid to reduce cost. So far, we have already seen Asus bundle the ClearVue document reader with its M530w, Samsung with the Picsel Viewer for the i600 and, most recently, Motorola with Documents To Go for its Q 9h. However, the bigger question I am sure many handheld users will be wondering is, shouldn't Office Mobile be already part of the WM6 Standard operating system? After all, Microsoft did tout Office Mobile as one of the key feature enhancements for the Windows Mobile 6 Standard edition for smart phones during the launch of the handheld OS earlier this year.

For those still new to the Windows Mobile OS, Office Mobile allows viewing and editing both Word and Excel, as well as viewing of PowerPoint files. Previously, WM5 smart phones would typically offer Picsel Viewer which allows only viewing of Word, Excel and PowerPoint files.

So naturally, CNET Asia has to ask Microsoft Singapore the burning question on behalf of its readers. Just why was Office Mobile no longer bundled as part of the standard package in WM6 devices?

And the answer? "We have always provided Office Mobile as an optional license for our partners, so they can offer the software that best meets the needs of their customers," said Microsoft Singapore in an email statement.

Which, of course, threw up more unanswered questions. Like why was that tiny detail conveniently left out during the WM6 launch earlier this year? Did the software giant plan all along to split the OS from the Office Mobile application for higher returns? Will we see lower prices on devices not bundled with Office Mobile? Share your own thoughts here.

Filed under: Handhelds, Mobile Phones
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