Microsoft Announces New Perpetual Release of Office

Microsoft Continues Support for Standalone Office Licenses

For users of Office applications, Microsoft actively promotes subscription-based access to Microsoft 365 (previously known as Office 365). However, the company has reaffirmed its commitment to providing a one-time purchase, perpetual license option for Office for the time being.

Introducing Microsoft Office LTSC

Previously, Office 2019 was released, offering the core Office applications without ongoing feature updates or cloud integration found in the subscription model. Now, Microsoft is announcing Microsoft Office LTSC (Long Term Servicing Channel).

A commercial preview will be available in April, with versions for both Mac and Windows platforms, supporting both 32-bit and 64-bit architectures.

Targeted Scenarios for LTSC

Microsoft emphasizes its preference for cloud adoption, but recognizes that certain environments necessitate a standalone license. This version, purchased with a single payment for long-term use (subject to hardware compatibility), is designated as a “specialty product” for specific applications.

These scenarios include regulated devices requiring stable configurations, process control systems in manufacturing, and devices lacking internet connectivity.

Microsoft’s Perspective on LTSC

According to Jared Spataro, CVP for Microsoft 365, most organizations will utilize Office LTSC only within defined, specialized contexts. He states that the majority of customers won’t deploy it organization-wide.

Price Adjustments for LTSC

As a specialty offering, Microsoft will increase the pricing for Office Professional Plus, Office Standard, and individual Office applications by up to 10%.

Spataro explains that cloud investment is crucial for future innovation and empowering organizations. However, Microsoft remains dedicated to supporting customers with specific needs for stable, locked-down environments.

Continued Commitment to LTSC

Despite the price adjustment, users with qualifying use cases are likely to welcome the continued availability of LTSC. Microsoft also confirms plans for future releases within this long-term servicing channel.

New Features in the Latest Release

This release of Office LTSC includes several enhancements, such as dark mode support. It also introduces new Excel functionalities like Dynamic Arrays and XLOOKUP, alongside general performance improvements.

Notably, Skype for Business will not be included by default, with Microsoft Teams taking its place. However, Skype for Business remains available for download if required.