The Verge is reporting today that Microsoft’s Office Suite will be coming to iOS and Android. The report says the release is planned for early 2013.
Office Mobile will debut in the form of free apps that allow Android and iOS users to view Microsoft Office documents on the move. Like the existing SkyDrive and OneNote apps, Office Mobile will require a Microsoft account. On first launch, a Microsoft account will provide access to the basic viewing functionality in the apps. Word, PowerPoint, and Excel documents will all be supported, and edit functionality can be enabled with an Office 365 subscription.
iOS users will be able to purchase an Office 365 subscription within the app, or allow organizations to distribute codes the will enable editing features within the app. The apps are said to allow for basic editing, but won’t attempt to replace the full functionality of the desktop version of Office.
Last month, a press release from Microsoft via the company’s Czech Republic subsidiary revealed that Office Mobile would be released for iOS and Android in March of 2013. The Verge says they’ve been told that Office Mobile for iOS will be the first to arrive, with a late February, early March arrival, followed by an Android version in May.
When contacted for a comment, The Verge reports that a company spokesperson would only say, “Office will work across Windows Phone, iOS and Android.”
