Microsoft releases Office 2016

Microsoft Corp. today began the worldwide release of Office 2016. The apps are the latest addition to Office 365, Microsoft’s cloud-based subscription service that helps people do their best work, together. The company also announced new and enhanced Office 365 services built for team productivity.

“The way people work has changed dramatically, and that’s why Microsoft is focused on reinventing productivity and business processes for the mobile-first, cloud-first world,” said Satya Nadella, Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft. “These latest innovations take another big step forward in transforming Office from a familiar set of individual productivity apps to a connected set of apps and services designed for modern working, collaboration and teamwork.”

Office 2016 delivers new versions of the Office desktop apps for Windows, including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, OneNote, Project, Visio and Access.

By subscribing to Office 365, customers can get always-up-to-date,fully installed apps for use across their devices, combined with a continually evolving set of consumer and commercial services, such as OneDrive online storage, Skype for Business, Delve, Yammer andenterprise-grade security features.

”The new Office was built by the new Microsoft with the clear understanding that it’s too har to work together. Collaborating, sharing ideas to make them bigger and better – it is the way of the new workplace.  We designed the new Office to enable people to focus on progress, not process – it takes the work out of working together,” explained Kunle Awosika, Microsoft Kenya Country Manager at the Nairobi launch of Office 2016.

Together, the new Office and Windows 10 are the most complete solution for doing. The Office 2016 apps run beautifully on the best Windows ever, including the new Sway for Windows 10 to create shareable, interactive stories that look great on any screen.

Windows Hello logs you into Windows and Office 365 in one simple step. Office Mobile apps on Windows 10 empower on-the-go productivity, and work with Continuum so you can use your phone like a PC. Cortana connects with Office 365 to help with tasks such as meeting preparation, with Outlook integration coming in November.

“The new Office provides built-in intelligence to help you work faster and smarter. Office 365 with the new Office 2016 apps is the smartest productivity suite ever. Office connects you to your work no matter where you are,” Mr. Awosika further added..

The new Office 2016 apps are available in 40 languages and require Windows 7 or later. Starting Tuesday, Office 365 subscribers can choose to download the new Office 2016 apps as part of their subscription.

Automatic updates will begin rolling out to consumer and small-business subscribers next month, and to commercial customers early next year.Office 2016 is also available today as a one-time purchase for both PCs and Macs.