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Users who want to download the latest version of open source office software suite LibreOffice in the Mac App Store now has to pay $8.99 for the privilege.
Project curators The Document Foundation (TDF) have confirmed (opens in new tab) the new fee is a “convenience fee” for users who prefer to get the macOS version of the suite from the Mac App Store rather than directly from the LibreOffice website (opens in new tab)with the software remaining available for free on all platforms.
TDF also wrote that the proceeds from the new Mac App Store release “will be invested to support the development of the LibreOffice project”.
LibreOffice Marketing Strategy
Since the software is still freely available, most individual users have little to fear from this change, which according to TDF is also due to a change in marketing strategy.
The foundation said its new marketing strategy reflected the organization’s specific focus on the “Community” version of the software, which is delivered free to individuals online, while “ecosystem companies” are “focused on a long-term supported, value-added version.” aimed at companies.”
Essentially, the organization wants to direct businesses to specific enterprise versions of LibreOffice that it believes would be a better fit for them.
“The purpose of the distinction is to train organizations to use the FOSS [Free and Open Source] project by choosing the LibreOffice version optimized for production deployments and supported by professional services, and not the Community version generously supported by volunteers,” the organization wrote.
The thinking will also be that large companies have the resources to make a small monetary contribution to the long-term future of the project.
It’s worth noting that a version of LibreOffice has been available on the Mac App Store for some time, although the price is slightly higher at $10. That “Vanilla” offering came with three years of dedicated technical support from collaboration software consultancy. Collaboration (opens in new tab).
It is difficult to say what the foundation hopes to achieve with this change of strategy. The Mac App Store is a consumer-oriented platform, so why TDF is interested in it as a means of educating companies about FOSS software is unclear.
TDF itself has admitted that the new version is still hampered by a lack of Java integration, because Apple prohibits the use of dependencies. As a result, it’s unclear why — beyond the promise of long-term support — companies would be interested in a version of the productivity tool suite of software that lacks functionality.
As a result, this new release doesn’t seem like much of a “value-add” offering for businesses, although it may be some time before the impact of the new strategy on FOSS education becomes apparent.
TechRadar Pro has emailed TDF for clarity along the way and will update this article if we receive a response.