Office 2021

[JPMi]

When will Office 2021 be available for download as a software benefit?

We are setting up a couple of new PCs with Windows 11, and would like to add Office 2021 to them.

[Clipper87]

I need to test Office 2021 LTSC , it's frustrating as a paying Action Pack customer to just have to wait and see while the product is readily available for quite some time now. Not all customers are cloud minded or have reasons to work disconnected. When will it be available in Action Pack ?

[JanoschUlmer]

@Clipper87 : If you just need it for testing, install it using ODT and enter the KMS generic key (GVLK), this will allow to run it for some time until it moved into unlicensed state, maybe allowing to cover the time until it will be added. For using it in production, you would of course need to wait until it is included in MAPS

[john_at_physoft]

@JanoschUlmer, how long after Office 2019 was released was it added to the MPN IUR benefits?  I know that we can't to hold you to a similar timeline for Office 2021, but it would be interesting to know, nonetheless.  Also, is there a policy document you can point us to that discusses additions to MPN IUR benefits?

Thanks,

- John

[JanoschUlmer]

@john_at_physoft : I don't have any saved license tables from this timeframe, when I recall correctly it was 2-3 months after release. 

The policy documents applicable are a the MPN agreement (Can be found in Partner Center --> Account Settings --> Agreements), and the Usage Guide: https://partner.microsoft.com/en-us/membership/internal-use-software 

None includes any specific rulings, policies or commitments when new products are added, if this is the question.

[john_at_physoft]

I still appreciate that you cannot share a hard timeline, but is there at least a plan to release Office 2021 sometime in 2022?  It's been almost 4 more months and still only Office 2019 is available.

[JanoschUlmer]

@john_at_physoft : My understanding was yes, have reached out again to the team (I'm not working in  the team handling the IUR benefits). It might be that going forward, only the O365E3 benefits will remain which include a newer Office version than what's in Office 2021, but waiting for confirmation.

[john_at_physoft]

That would be highly disappointing because part of the purpose of the partner membership is to be able to access versions to test and configure them before we go forward with a larger purchase and production roll-out.  Granted, this is hardly "ahead of the crowd" since we would only be able to access these versions (long?) after initial release, but that just gives Microsoft time to work out the worst bugs before we get it, right? 🙂

[JanoschUlmer]

@john_at_physoft : Well, technically you can test with any older release office Office 365 Apps in O365E3, which are technically the same as Office 2021 (Office 2021 is roughly a 2020 version of the O365 Apps). 

For other testing purposes I would also recommend to look at becoming a Silver Partner, , Silver/Gold benefits include Visual Studio Subscription benefits, which give access to almost all Microsoft products released in the last 20 years. And there are also evaluation versions available, respectively you can test with a Office version enabled for KMS activation for multiple months as well (since the Office download is enabled in the Office Deployment Tool, you don't have to have a license to download and install it).

[jimerb1]

is M365E3 included in the action pack?

[JPMi]

No it isn't.

Office 365 E3 is included under Azure & Cloud.

Windows 11 you can find here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows11. Use your key for Windows 10.

[JanoschUlmer]

@JPMi : There is currently no ETA when this will be added to MPN IUR benefits, additions to IUR benefits do not happen regularly, and not automatically when a new software version is released.

However, you have also the M365E3 benefit which includes both Windows 11 E3 and M365 Apps for Enterprise, so you have access to Office Apps which is even newer than Office 2021.

[Dingethal]

Es geht mir überhaupt nicht um billige Office Lizenzen, denn meine Firma und meine 10 Mitarbeiter laufen auf einem bezahlten Office 365 account. Ich denke Microsoft will Produkte außerhalb von Office 365 nicht mehr vermarkten und deswegen werden die Händler nicht mehr unterstützt. Deswegen verkaufen wir auch keine Lizenzen mehr - denn was wir nicht präsentieren und ausprobieren können - kennen wir auch nicht. Deswegen überlege ich mir warum ich noch in das actionpac investieren soll. Mann sollte Microsoft nicht zu seinem Glück zwingen - es gibt ausreichend andere office und Projektmanagementprogramme die sogar teilweise besser funktionieren. Vielleicht braucht Microsoft keine Kunden mehr.

[kgoranov]

More than year later Office 2021 and Project 2021 are missing in Action pack software. 

Will MS close standalone versions ? Or just MS don't care for action pack users ?

[JanoschUlmer]

@kgoranov Overall Office LTSC versions certainly play a lesser role than few years ago, the recent Office version is available in O365E3. And for testing you can deploy Office, Project, Visio 2021 LTSC via Office Deployment Toolkit without keys as well.

This is not a confirmation that they will never be updated, last thing I heard was that it should happen, but I don't know an ETA, I asked several times for this. Personally I think some updates are due latest when new Microsoft Cloud Program starts - when looking at the new benefits for Solution Partners and the fact that there are little LTSC versions at all also for them, there is an indication what's happening though.

[Meppyman]

Thanks for the update. Given this, what is the best/lowest cost way for a partner to add apps like VISIO to their subscription? Do we just buy the retail version cloud subscription of it?

[JanoschUlmer]

@Meppyman Yes, if what you need is not included in any MPN benefits package you can obtain, the alternative option is to buy the license directly - retail in any store or simply via the M365 Admin portal. There is no further discount for Partners though, so the options are the same as for any other customer. 

Note also that some Visio functionality, the web app, is included in O/M365 subscriptions, not the standalone app though: Microsoft Visio is Rolling Out to Microsoft 365 Commercial Subscribers Worldwide - Microsoft Tech Community

[Dingethal]

I now but what fore I pay the action pac

Holen Sie sich Outlook für Android<>

[kgoranov]

In the middle of 2022 we still not have access to MS Office 2021 , also 2021 versions of MS project and Visio are missing.

This is not acceptable. Action pack was used to give access to latest software versions, now we have 3 years old versions. Why ?

[noelallan1969]

Hi, I just renewed my subscription with Microsoft Action Pack, just to find out that I still cannot test Office 2021. Whats the point in buying the actionpack if we cannot test or roll-out to our developers the latest versions. The actionpack used to be great, but to be honest most of the stuff has not changed in 3 years.

Can you give an explanation why this has not been added yet or an e.t.a. when it will. If not I will probably look for a refund as whats the point in buying the actionpack if its never updated?

disgruntled I.T. Specialist.

@kgoranov @JPMi @davehamiltone @alescan @v-jillarmour 

[Lothar]

Hi, its the same here.

explanation why this has not been added yet or an e.t.a. when it will is needed urgently.

@v-jillarmour @noelallan1969 

[v-jillarmour]

@Tmcalear can you help here? Thank you!