Microsoft Office is coming to iOS and Android sometime next year. One of the company’s project managers from Europe, shared the scoop that MO will finally be available for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s iOS and Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG)’s Android operating systems.
The report came from the press release which stated, “In addition to Windows, Office will also be available on other operating systems: Windows Phone, Windows RT, Mac OS, Android, iOS, and Symbian.”
Last summer there was a report that Office for iPad would arrive on November 10, 2012. Although that rumor has yet to be confirmed, The Daily shared a screenshot of what the app looks like on the iPad. It’s speculated that this app will allow users to create and edit documents. It supports Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like the app will support Dedicated Outlook.
Microsoft’s press release also mentioned that Office could be available for iPhone and iPod Touch.
This move is just another reminder that people are ditching traditional computers in favor of mobile tablet devices. Currently, iPad users can choose from an array of office productive suites, including iWork and Documents 2 Unlimited. Many of these file suites already work with Windows files.
If this report is true, it’s interesting, considering how Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is gearing up to releasing the Surface Tablet. While it seems like a smart idea to supply iOS and Android users with Windows-based software, it may not be such a good idea if you plan on selling the same software on your upcoming tablet. Why purchase the Surface tablet for office programs, when you can get the exact same software on the iPad.
That said, I think Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) has bigger plans for their upcoming Surface Tablet, and so they shouldn’t worry to much, as long as they have a bigger selling selling point.
