Following previous reports that Microsoft Office apps may be coming to the iPad, The Daily claims to have spent some hands-on time with a pre-release version of the app, seemingly proven that MS Office for iPad actually exists.
The Daily reports:
The app’s user interface is similar to the current OneNote app, but it has hints of Metro, the new design language that can be seen in Windows Phone and in the as-yet-released Windows 8 desktop operating system. Word, Excel and PowerPoint files can be created and edited locally and online.
The project is reportedly complete, and is set to be submitted to the App Store for approval. An Android version is also reportedly in the works, as well as an update for the current OneNote app for iOS. The app would compete with Apple’s own Pages, Numbers, and Keynote apps, as well as third-party suites such as Documents to Go and QuickOffice.
If Microsoft priced the apps competitively, it could be difficult for other office apps to compete. I, for one, am excited to see Office for iPad arrive, and will be making the jump as soon as I see an official release!
Update: Microsoft has officially denied rumors that Microsoft Office is coming to the iPad, claims that The Daily’s image is fake, and has issued the following statement to ZDNet:
The Daily story is based on inaccurate rumors and speculation. We have no further comment.
The denial may just be a PR stunt – we’ll all just have to wait and see.
Update 2: The Daily’s Peter Ha has responded to Microsoft’s accusations (as reported by TheNextWeb), and claims that the app was demoed on an iPad by a Microsoft representative, and shows an image of the Microsoft Office icon on a 3G iPad.
Update 3: Microsoft issued a tweet from their official account with the final word on the matter, which is that it will be clear “in the coming weeks.” Interesting, since that’s also what The Daily said…
Great respect for The Daily but regrettably someone is giving them bad info, and that’ll be clear in the “coming weeks.”
— Microsoft News (@MSFTnews) February 21, 2012
Update 4 (5/23/12): BGR reports that Microsoft for iOS is real, and is expected to launch in November.
