MS Office for iOS, Android due March 2013?

Microsoft may be on track to launch its Office productivity suite for Apple's iOS and Google's Android platforms by March 2013, a tech site reported.

 

The Verge quoted Microsoft product manager Petr Bobek as "confirming" the native iOS and Android versions of Office 2013.

 

It quoted Bobek as telling Czech site IHNED that native apps will be made available from March 2013, and cited a press release from Microsoft's Czech Republic team supposedly confirming the availability for iOS and Android.

 

But it said Microsoft has also released a statement on the matter claiming the information shared by its Czech subsidiary is "not accurate."

 

"The information shared by our Czech subsidiary is not accurate. We do not have anything further to share at this time," it quoted the statement as saying.

 

It also quoted a US spokesperson for Microsoft as saying the firm has not yet announced retail availability for the new Office.

 

"We have said previously Office Mobile will work across Windows Phones, Android phones and iOS," it quoted the spokesperson as saying.

 

Citing the Microsoft release, The Verge said Microsoft plans to make Office available "on other operating systems, Windows Phone, Windows RT, Mac OS, Android, iOS and Symbian."

 

The Verge added there will also be a new version of Office Web Apps, noting Office for iPad has long been rumored to be in the works.

 

The press release also mentions that Office 2013 will be made available to businesses in December, with a consumer launch scheduled for the end of February 2013.

 

"Office 365 services and other Office products for mobile (phones and tablets) will be released from March 2013," it quoted Microsoft as saying. — TJD, GMA News