Today, Microsoft has officially released its new Office 2016 productivity suite for Windows. The Office 2016 is out of preview and into a final release, which is now available as either a standalone package or as part of an Office 365 subscription.

Microsoft has made the new Office apps universal, allowing all Office apps to adapt to touch screens and tablets as well as to desktops and laptops. This is big news to anyone who uses Office on a tablet or phone (Android, iOS, or Windows Phone), because they will now get the same app there that they get on the desktop.

For existing Windows users of Office 2013, most of the improvements in Office 2016 are invisible, including enhancements to security settings for SharePoint-based workgroups. Almost nothing significant has changed in the interface. If you are familiar with Office 2013, you will have no trouble using Office 2016.

Features of the new Office 2016 applications include Skype integration as well as a wealth of new additions to help teams work more effectively and its now available to download as part of an Office 365 subscription.

Other new additions include integration with Windows 10 Cortana personal assistant, upgraded security and more.

It’s important to give people choice. Some people want the features you get in a native client, others want the flexibility of the cloud. Many like to use the two in combination. So we see a future for both products. Office 2016 works best when the cloud features are behind it too.

You can still buy the standalone product, you don’t have to have a subscription, though we do believe a subscription offers the best value. Collaboration is not just limited to within businesses. Even if you’re a sole trader you can collaborate with clients and customers using the advanced features in Office 2016.

Our recommendation is always to get the Office 365 subscription as it is always up to date, you can install on multiple devices, and get 1TB of OneDrive storage. Pricing for Office 365 For Home and Office 365 For Business won’t change. The pricing for the Office 2016 perpetual license is forthcoming.

For more information on the new Office 2016 and Office 365 subscription jump over to the official Office website for details.

Microsoft Office Official Website – https://products.office.com/en-us/home