September 14th, 2007

Is Microsoft Office 2007 outselling Windows Vista?

Posted by Mary Jo Foley @ 10:35 am

Categories: Channel, Corporate strategy, OEMs, Office, Office 2007, Resellers, System builders, Vista, Windows client

Tags: Microsoft Office 2007, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Corp., Sales, Mary Jo Foley

Might sales of Office 2007 be outpacing sales of Windows Vista?

Since early this year, Microsoft has been issuing periodic sales updates on Windows Vista. The most recent Vista sales pronouncement (released by the company at the end of July) was that Microsoft had sold 60 million copies of Vista.

The Office team hasn’t been talking sales figures — at least not until now. But according to information shared during a recent briefing with certain members of the French tech press, Microsoft allegedly has sold 70 million copies of Office 2007 to date. (Thanks to LiveSide.Net for the link.)

I’ve asked Microsoft to verify whether the 70 million number is real and was provided by its officials this week. No word back yet.

The official comment, via a Microsoft spokesperson: “It’s not our policy to confirm the license figures.” Since Microsoft is not denying the validity of the info., my take is someone with Microsoft France spilled the beans.

I’m betting the same caveat applies to Office as Vista: These are copies sold to the channel, not necessarily to customers. But still… If these numbers are right, means Office 2007 may be outselling Vista. At the very least, it’s keeping up, neck and neck, with it.

Just this week, market researchers wtih NPD noted that Office 2007 was selling like crazy through the shrink-wrapped/retail channel. Microsoft officials have said that 80 percent of Vista sales are coming through OEM preloads. That percentage for Office is substantially lower, but Microsoft has been working on programs to try to convince more PC makers to preload its Office 2007 suite.

Have you upgraded to Office 2007 without moving to Vista? Any plans to do so?