Microsoft Office for iPhone? Please, No!

By Jane McEntegart
published

Today a lot of people are talking about the scary possibility of Microsoft Office for iPhone.

During a Web 2.0 Questions and Answers session, president of Microsoft’s Business Division Stephen Elop let a little something slip. Tim O'Reilly, the organizer of the Web 2.0 conference, pointed out during a chat about client software that no one is using Office on their iPhone, to which Elop responded "Not yet, you're not." The Register reports that when he was pressed on the matter, he let out a terse "keep watching."

Creepy déjà vu from when Skype told us to keep watching, we find it hard to believe Microsoft would ever develop Office for iPhone. iPhoners can already view Excel and Word documents on their phones and, while it’s probably a pain in the neck that they can’t edit them, we’re hoping Office never comes to the iPhone.

While usually, I’m the first person to gush with enthusiasm about possibilities for the iPhone, MS Office on the device is something I actively don’t want. Smartphones are a wonderful invention and no doubt about it, email, news, browsing, the weather, twitter and whatever else on your phone is a great experience. However, composing whole documents on your phone is where I think it crosses the line and moves from phone to a ultra mobile device. It’s the same way we feel about phones with high quality cameras built in: If you want a phone, buy a phone, if you want a camera with over 5 megapixels, bite the bullet and buy a camera.

With applications now available that allow you to edit your MS Office documents, what do you guys think of this news? While I dread the prospect of Word on the iPhone, I’m sure a lot of people would be well up for it. Leave your thoughts below!

Jane McEntegart
45 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Hupiscratch
    Well, I dont use iPhone, but nothing against Office on the mobile.
    Reply
  • runmymouth
    Office on the I-phone would be handy at times. I don't use mine for buisnes, they gave me a crackberry for that.
    Reply
  • E7130
    Well, hm, I see it as a good idea if Apple wants to better corner the business sector. My last company always viewed spreadsheets, pdfs, etc on their phones.
    Reply
  • aggiestudd07
    I personally would like to edit spreadsheets that are on the phone
    Reply
  • I can edit office documents on my phone (att tilt), I have never used that feature however and I've had the phone a year+. I do use the built in camera quite a lot though. It's not the best, but when you need to take a random picture (which I do a LOT) it comes in handy. I wish the camera was better though, considering I wouldn't take a dedicated camera with me all the time like my phone.
    Reply
  • MEGACAMPER
    I'd love it! Why are you so against it Jane? Just as you said

    "If you want a phone, buy a phone, if you want a camera with over 5 megapixels, bite the bullet and buy a camera."

    If you don't want Office on the Iphone, DON'T INSTALL IT! But stop your whining about it being added.
    Reply
  • Spanky Deluxe
    As long as they don't charge standard Office rates then I'm fine with this. Anything more than about £10 and they can stuff it.
    Reply
  • JMcEntegart
    MEGACAMPERI'd love it! Why are you so against it Jane? Just as you said "If you want a phone, buy a phone, if you want a camera with over 5 megapixels, bite the bullet and buy a camera."If you don't want Office on the Iphone, DON'T INSTALL IT! But stop your whining about it being added.
    I'm against it because you can already view documents on the iPhone and now you can edit 'em too. I guess it's irrational (because it's not like I'm being forced to buy it and install it) but I hate the idea of using the iPhone to do any amount of substantial writing. I just think the touchscreen keyboard is way too small.

    That aside, it would also hugely depend on how much MS is planning on charging for the application.
    Reply
  • matt_b
    If I wanted to compose an entire document or spreadsheet, I'd go to my laptop/netbook. Trying to do the same on a tiny smart phone is entirely counter-productive and time-consuming. I can only imagine the price they would charge for this piece of software..........
    Reply
  • Grims
    Why would having the option to edit documents on an iphone offend you? If you don't like it don't use it, someone else might not feel the same way...how does it hurt anything?
    Reply