Microsoft Office for iOS and Android Arriving in November?

[MacRumors]

BGR reports that Microsoft is planning to launch Office for iOS in November this year, with the source claiming first-hand knowledge of the software running on an iPad. With the app's splash screen referring to it as "Office for iOS", the source also speculates that the app may also be coming to the smaller screens of the iPhone and iPod touch. In addition to its iOS effort, Microsoft is also said to be bringing Office to Android-based tablets in the same timeframe.

Microsoft had indicated soon after the launch of the original iPad that it was investigating the possibility of bringing Office to the platform, but ultimately stated that it had no plans for such an effort. The Daily has since claimed several times that Office for iPad is in fact in the works, reporting in February that it had even had hands-on time with a prototype of the app.

Photo of claimed Office prototype app running on an iPad (Source: The Daily)​

Microsoft denied the claim, but The Daily continues to stand by its report. Suggesting that there may have been a misunderstanding somewhere, Microsoft stated that the situation would become "clear in the coming weeks". No such clarification has yet surfaced, however.

Article Link: Microsoft Office for iOS and Android Arriving in November?

 

[Zwhaler]

What about the price? Might be nice software to use with an iPad keyboard attachment... not so much using just the built in touch keyboard for long word documents.

 

[JAT]

Since they are denying any existence of such work, I doubt a price would be forthcoming.

But...waiting.

 

[nefan65]

What about the price? Might be nice software to use with an iPad keyboard attachment... not so much using just the built in touch keyboard for long word documents.

If they're smart, they'll use the same model as iWork for iPad. Individual for say $29.99/Each, or the whole thing for $79.99 [Word, Excel, and PP].

 

[stridemat]

For me this is a deal breaker for using the iPad at work. That is if it fully maintains formatting etc when editing documents created on a PC. To date the apps available cause me more problems.

 

[Widashy]

seems legit.

 

[iCaleb]

Post deleted by user.

 

[Brenster]

Hopefully it'll be more feature rich and interoperable with the desktop counterparts than the current OneNote for iOS is.

 

[KPOM]

Given how much they are betting on Windows 8 and Windows RT, I would not expect an iOS or Android version of Office anytime soon. If Windows RT is a flop, then Microsoft might be forced to release a version for iOS and/or Android to stay relevant. I wouldn't be surprised if a product is in the works, but only as a backstop.

 

[3N16MA]

Whenever I see the words Microsoft I get a headache.

Brings back bad memories.

You should go see a doctor if a simple name gives you headaches.

 

[adildacoolset]

I do hope microsoft ARE making office for iPad. Its just the thing about computing: microsoft office is the best office app around

 

[applesith]

There's a lot of money for MS to make with iOS Office, but they might want to keep it exclusive to Windows 8 for a competitive advantage.

 

[zzLZHzz]

Given how much they are betting on Windows 8 and Windows RT, I would not expect an iOS or Android version of Office anytime soon. If Windows RT is a flop, then Microsoft might be forced to release a version for iOS and/or Android to stay relevant. I wouldn't be surprised if a product is in the works, but only as a backstop.

if microsoft has OneNote, Skydrive, Kinectimals, lync app for iOS, there is no reason why this isn't part of the plan. and every often those app by microsoft for iOS isn't available for andriod.

afterall the biggest enemies of microsoft isn't apple and vice versa but rather google.

and i am indeed interested to see how office for windows 8 would look like. would they make use of metro.

 

[kustardking]

Whenever I see the words Microsoft I get a headache.

Brings back bad memories.

I like Microsoft, but for their Office products I get Ribbon Rage. Office's saving grace on OS X, because of OS X, is that MS is forced to keep the menu-bar navigation.

 

[markintosh]

MS is screwed either way...

Nearly 12 million iPads sold last quarter...even if only half purchased Word at $10 - that's $42 Million in revenue.

Let's say they make $50 a pop on licensing for Windows tablets. They would have to sell approx 8.4 million devices a quarter to make the same revenue (FYI - Windows RT is supposed to include Word, Excel, PP). No one but Apple is REMOTELY close to selling that many tablets.

If they release Office for iOS, they will effectively kill their own tablet plans.

 

[zzLZHzz]

I like Microsoft, but for their Office products I get Ribbon Rage. Office's saving grace on OS X, because of OS X, is that MS is forced to keep the menu-bar navigation.

from what i see, microsoft seem to put in more app on iOS app than OS X.

i have nothing against the ribbon. but office for mac is heaven and earth different from office for windows. the features isn't up to scratch

 

[MRU]

The screenshot from the daily was a build off Office for Windows 8 running on a Remote Desktop App ( logmein or such) and not of Office for iPad of which there is still NO official information coming from any reliable source inside MAC BU.

A tablet version of Office is a selling point for Windows 8 tablet manufacturers, and would help it differentiate itself from IOS and Android rivals.

For that reason it will stay Windows 8 for the conceivable time ahead IMHO.

 

[Mad Mac Maniac]

It'll be interesting to see how it compares to iWork, both on functionality and price.

For those of you wondering about a metro interface... correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe Microsoft is changing office to a metro interface even on Win8. That will remain a "windows classic" view (at least for the time being). So I seriously doubt there will be too much metro-like interfaces

 

[engg2000]

There's a lot of money for MS to make with iOS Office, but they might want to keep it exclusive to Windows 8 for a competitive advantage.

There is no competitive advantage to withhold an app from the market from a software company's perspective. People are not going to pass up buying an iPad because there is no MS Office app. It actually makes more sense to have Office on every available platform so they can keep their user base.

 

[MRU]

It'll be interesting to see how it compares to iWork, both on functionality and price.

For those of you wondering about a metro interface... correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe Microsoft is changing office to a metro interface even on Win8. That will remain a "windows classic" view.

That is exactly it. That screenshot is from Office 15 on Windows 8 via a remote desktop application for iOS.

There is no competitive advantage to withhold an app from the market from a software company's perspective. People are not going to pass up buying an iPad because there is no MS Office app. It actually makes more sense to have Office on every available platform so they can keep their user base.

Yes there is. When you have invested a lot of $$$$ to take on the tablet market with your new OS, Office for Win 8 platform would be a good selling point and market differentiator.

 

[macbwizard]

If they're smart, they'll use the same model as iWork for iPad. Individual for say $29.99/Each, or the whole thing for $79.99 [Word, Excel, and PP].

I hope they don't price it that high. I don't think it's worth more than $9.99 an app. Especially because there are sure to be compatibility issues.

 

[Macclone]

There's a lot of money for MS to make with iOS Office, but they might want to keep it exclusive to Windows 8 for a competitive advantage.

Last time I checked, MS was a software company. Do they care about the platform or about the $$? Office is their future, not, their POS Win 8 OS.

 

[camnchar]

No thanks I have iWork.

 

[kyjaotkb]

Whenever I see the words Microsoft I get a headache.

Brings back bad memories.

Excel is IMHO one of the most important breakthrough in human productivity in the last decades. It is a totally amazing piece of software.

 

[Flitzy]

It's worthless if it doesn't sync with Macs/iCloud.

Plus, no doubt, it will be vastly overpriced like most of their products.