Office Mobile 6.x to be available as a standalone application

Yesterday, we shared news on a free update to Office Mobile for Windows Mobile 6 devices. Sometime after the post went live, we found out that Microsoft pulled the update, so the link we have is broken. We also noticed (when the link was working) that there was mention of purchasing Office Mobile, which is something we've never seen Microsoft do in the past. Late last night we received some additional information regarding this development:

"Office Mobile has always been provided as an optional license for our partners so they can create a custom portfolio. That means that not all Windows Mobile devices have a full version (editing and creation capabilities) of Office mobile on their device. The full version of Office Mobile is being made available as a standalone application for Windows Mobile 6 (Standard and Professional) and Windows Mobile 5.0 Professional devices that do not have the application on their device. Pricing and exact availability are still being determined, but things are close."

So for now, there's no available update to Office Mobile 6.1. In the future, folks that don't have Office Mobile 6.x on their device will have the opportunity to get it, but we don't yet know if there will be a cost. My question would be: would you purchase Office Mobile (assuming you don't already have it) and what would it be worth to you?

Comments

[cr0ft]

I wouldn't pay a cent for an upgrade to read a file format I refuse to use by the sheer principle of the thing. Also... Office Mobile is a pretty lame duck in any event, IMHO.

Of course, I rarely need to edit any formatted documents while away from the laptop.

[Bruno]

I am glad to have Office Mobile on my PDA and Smartphone, but I rarely ever use it except to occasionally open an attachment in an e-mail I may receive. I might pay a few dollars for it if I did not have it, but not a lot. Personally I don't think I would buy a PDA/Smartphone without it or an equivalent of it in the first place.

[JimBo]

If not already on my device, I would absolutely buy it (but less than $100). $100 would be a reasonable insurance policy when on deadline and away from laptop.

[John M]

Hmm, wonder if this is why the HTC Shift doesn't have WM Office

[Drew Merl]

Maybe MS could just toss it in with their existing Office suites. For every version they have they could have a corresponding mobile suite as well. That would be great for those that use the OneNote, BCM and finance apps. This would lower the cost to device manufacturers and then people like my girlfriend wouldn't ask me why there are so many apps taking up space on her T-Mo Wing that she doesn't need.

[Cody B]

10 bucks! I bought the full Documents to go suite for $40. I was on the fence at that price. But at my office I get a lot of appointments that have word attachments. Its nice to forward it to my Dash and have a copy. Make notes on the doc in the meeting, then send back to my PC.