I recently purchased a new IPad Pro 9.7 which on line articles indicated that I could operate the Microsoft Office products (ie Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook). I have downloaded the apps from the store but when I go to use them it requires a Office 365 sign in which I assume you have to pay a subscription fee for. Is this right?
That is correct, I am afraid.
You need Office 365 paid subscription on devices larger than 10.1 inch to get full functionality of Office for mobile. Your device qualifies for free Office products so no, that is incorrect.
https://blogs.office.com/2015/03/24/mobile-versus-professional-thoughts-on-the-o ffice-business/
How screen size factors in
Currently, we are also using screen size to delineate between professional and personal use. Based on our research, we are classifying anything with a screen size of 10.1 inches or less as a true mobile device: You’re probably using it on the go, when it’s not practical to use a larger computing device such as a PC or a Mac. You probably aren’t using a mouse or a keyboard, instead navigating via touch interface. It’s probably not a “pro” category tablet that is used for design or presentations. On these devices, the core editing and viewing experience is free, until you get to those premium, subscription features.
If ShagCa is correct then Microsoft needs to update its own Office Website.
https://products.office.com/en-us/mobile/Office-iPad
As of today it states right under Download on the AppStore:
*Availability may vary by country/language. A qualifying Office 365 subscription is required to create and edit documents in Word, Excel and PowerPoint on the iPadPro™.
Thanks for your answers, yes it is quite confusing. You can't really do much at all it appears without the 365 subscription yet articles on line suggested that one of the advantages of the new 9.7 size iPad Pro is that you can get office functionality at no cost.
Actually it does say it is free on iTunes. Here's MS Word for iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/app/id586447913?mt=8
REQUIREMENTS
iPad Pro: To create or edit documents, you need a qualifying Office 365 subscription* (see http://aka.ms/Office365subscriptions), which also gives you access to the full Office experience.
iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch: To create or edit documents, sign in with a free Microsoft account. To unlock the full Office experience and to access and save documents in OneDrive for Business or on SharePoint, you need a qualifying Office 365 subscription* (see http://aka.ms/Office365subscriptions).
In another similar discussion (that I can't find right now), some users are using it free on their iPad (9.7 screen size). I'm guessing core functionality is free but if you want full functionality, you gotta cough up some $.
Thanks Shagca, the functionality at no cost is quite basic so agree, looks like you really do need to pay if you want useful functionality. It is disappointing as that was a real positive in my buying decision for the new pro which is quite an expensive tablet!
Office for IPad Pro 9.7
