Microsoft had a surprise meeting today for an invitation-only crowd to reveal what we expected to be the upcoming Microsoft Office suite of products. As it would turn out, we were correct on that assumption and Steve Ballmer opened the 45 minute presentation to talk about The New Microsoft Office, or Office 15 - Ballmer used both so we can't seem to figure out which one is right. He began by explaining where Microsoft was and what they were trying to do with the new product and said that with this new generation of Microsoft Office, users will see the "same boldness and beauty in Windows 8 and Windows Phone" brought into the productivity software. Ballmer then added that The New Microsoft Office is the "most ambitious release of Office" Microsoft has ever done.
Starting with Office 365, Microsoft was very clear on pushing the cloud-based services that surrounded The New Microsoft Office, even though there was mention that there would be a version you could install that wouldn't require a 365 subscription. With the preview of Office available today, you can experience "your modern office," with the software focusing on four key aspects: Windows 8 style and functionality, cloud, social and new usage scenarios.
For more on what was behind those four aspects and to learn everything about The New Microsoft Office, click the break.