Thank Goodness, That Free Ad-Supported Version of Microsoft Office Was Just a Test

If you have been looking for a free alternative to Google Docs, Microsoft might have answered your prayers—or so we thought—until you see what it won’t let you do. Beebom first reported that Microsoft had stealthily launched a free, ad-supported version of the Office app earlier this week, offering limited versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. However, as it turns out, Microsoft was conducting “some limited testing” and will not launch a free version of Office after all. Microsoft told PCWorld that it was “conducting some limited testing” and that the company has “no plans to launch a free, ad-supported version of Microsoft Office desktop apps.” Knowing it was a test is a relief since it seems like Microsoft put most of Office’s useful features behind a paywall. This also explains why there was no fanfare around its release. The free ad-supported Office app, available only on Windows PCs, gives you access to the most basic features of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. If you want to d ... Read full article.