Microsoft releases Office 2016

Microsoft has announced the global launch of Office 2016 for Windows and Mac, as well as several new and enhanced Office 365 services. 

Office 2016 brings new versions of desktop apps for Windows including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook and Access.

The new version also includes a range of security features, including support for data loss prevention across the Office 2016 apps, multi-factor authentication and "other mission critical control capabilities", according to a blog from Julia White, general manager of Office 365 technical product management.

Thomas Duryea national general manager Michael Chanter said the company would be recommending the new software suite to customers.

“Whilst in many ways a very familiar release, Office 2016 really rounds out the enterprise productivity trinity of Windows 10, Office 365 and cloud,” said Chanter.

Chanter said Office 2016's embedded collaboration features would be a huge differentiator for Microsoft's user experience. 

“OneDrive provides a secure and ubiquitous file collaboration element no matter what type of device, operating system or application you are working in. This really ties the experience together across traditional PCs and other platforms (PC, Mac, iOS and Android)".

Thomas Duryea has been using Office 2016 with Windows 10 for months, and will be recommending it to enterprise customers.

"The extensive beta testing program that Microsoft has adopted means that enterprise users can be confident in the quality and reliability of the platform on day one, and start taking advantage of the new features early.”

Microsoft launched its Windows 10 operating system in July, designed to work across laptops, desktop and smartphones, as part of chief executive Satya Nadella's push towards winning back lost ground in the tablets and mobile arena.

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

The stand-alone software version of Office 2016 costs $179 for Office 2016 Home & Student (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote) and $299 for Office Home & Business (added is Outlook 2016). Another option is  Office 365, which runs $9 monthly for a Personal plan (with one device installation) and $12 monthly for the Home Plan (Office can be installed on five devices and five phones). Microsoft Office Professional 2016 costs $599 for one PC.