New MS Office 2013: touch-interface, cloud roaming and subscription plans

As usual together with the new version of Windows 8 Microsoft will released the new Microsoft Office, because Windows can't live without the Office. Yesterday Steve Ballmer for the first time demonstrated Office 2013 to the public. As might be expected, the main upgrade is a new touch-interface, which is adapted for mouse, stylus and fingers. The second new feature - default integration with the cloud storage SkyDrive, which allows not only to save all files to the cloud, but also to sync files and Office settings between the all user computers and mobile devices. The third feature - integration between desktop Office and cloud Office 365. Microsoft will focus not on the Office sales, but on the Office 365 subscriptions, which also include desktop editors license. Of course, there are a lot of new small features that are probably not very interesting. More interesting is to pay attention to those features that will NOT appear in the Office 2013:

1. Simple licensing scheme

Although Microsoft is moving to the cloud, its pricing is still in the past - it's so confusing, that no one can understand it. Microsoft even provids users with a Guide for version selection and price calculation. How much is Google Apps? $50/year per user. How much is MS Office? Go, read the Guide.

2. Integration with Skype and Yammer

Formally, Skype is now a part of the Office. Each Office 365 subscriber will get 60 free minutes per month for Skype calls. Besides, Skype will power the online status indication in Outlook. But these innovations look very ridiculous taking into account the real Skype's potential. And recently acquired Yammer, though appeared on the Office presentation slides, but most probably will be left behind the Office update.

3. Mobile platforms support

Here is an exact quote of Microsoft's spokeswoman: "Office Mobile will work across Windows Phones, Android phones and iOS but Microsoft will discuss those plans later.

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