WordPerfect Vies for a Comeback
With the introduction of its revitalized WordPerfect Office 12 productivity suite Corel has climbed to the top of the mountain, and proclaimed "WordPerfect is back!"
After a long hiatus, WordPerfect has received suite-wide compatibility enhancements to work better with Microsoft Office, and an updated assortment of features. The final product is expected to ship in April of 2004.
The WordPerfect Office suite tackles word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, and contact management in a package that is not glaringly different from MS Office. Corel's new Workspace Manager enables users to adjust the user interface to form custom designs or clone the layout of Microsoft toolbar and menu items. Users can also toggle between pre-designed Lotus 1-2-3 and WordPerfect 5.1 Classic modes.
To fulfill the prerequisite of compatibility, Corel has included Microsoft Office file support along with new compatibility toolbars that reduce the complexity of working with Microsoft Office documents. WordPerfect users can publish documents in PDF, XML, Microsoft Word, Excel or PowerPoint file formats.
In addition to file compatibility, Corel has zeroed in on providing small businesses with Microsoft Outlook integration.
"With WordPerfect Office 12 we're addressing those customers who feel they've been shut out of a cutting-edge office suite by high costs or restrictive licensing terms. WordPerfect Office 12 offers exceptional value for new customers, but we also know that our enhancements to compatibility give our existing users the reason they need to upgrade. It's a very exciting time for WordPerfect customers," stated Richard Carriere, Director of Office Productivity at Corel.
Other new features slated for arrival in WordPerfect 12 include the WordPerfect OfficeReady template browser and Wireless Office Suite powered by Zim Mobile phones. Telecommuters will be able to access Microsoft Outlook email and calendar appointments, as well as receive instant messages through the Wireless Office software.
As far as Microsoft alternatives go, OpenOffice and Sun's StarOffice are arguably the best known contenders. "The issue is marketing. Corel is, in a sense, climbing back into the game when competition is the fiercest," Yankee Group senior analyst Laura DiDio told BetaNews.
DiDio continued on: "The technology is viable, and a good solid product, but customers will question how viable is Corel? Microsoft’s US $150 million investment in Corel is long since spent."
Yankee Group's current market share surveys indicate that Microsoft controls roughly 90 percent of the productivity market.
"Corel is targeting that 10 percent of the market that is left while it works to reestablish its brand name and make as much noise as possible. They are not taking Microsoft head-on," remarked Yankee's DiDio.
According to Corel, English versions of WordPerfect Office 12 will be available for purchase in late April 2004, with French, German, Spanish and Brazilian-Portuguese versions set to follow shortly thereafter.
The standard WordPerfect 12 suite will retail for US $299.99 for the full version, US $149.99 for upgrade editions, and US $99.99 for the education SKU. Some users of Microsoft productivity products are eligible for upgrade pricing.