14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is reportedly gearing up to make available new versions of its Office productivity suite, one set to arrive on Apple’s iPad, while the other is expected to hit Google’s Android tablets.
A few months ago, the company was rumored to plan the release of an iPad-specific flavor of Office, but it denied the allegations.
However, new reports on the matter suggest that such software is in the works, and that it might become available sometime in November.
A recent article on BRG claims that the iPad version of Microsoft Office was already spotted at large, and that it resembles a lot what the previous leak suggested.
The app will be released as Office for iOS, it seems, which suggests that other Apple devices might also receive it, including the iPhone and iPod.
Moreover, the news site says that Microsoft is planning the release of an Android version of Office as well, optimized for use of tablet PCs.
The Redmond-based software giant has been working on a touch-enabled variant of Office to fit its upcoming Windows 8 platform (it already has it on Windows Phone, we might add), and the availability of its application on other mobile platforms does not come as a surprise at all.
However, it appears that this is not the only app that Microsoft is set to release on iOS in the foreseeable future, but that it also plans on launching an Outlook Web App and an updated flavor of Lync.
The Outlook Web App is available at the moment for iOS users via browser, but additional functionality is expected inside the dedicated application, AppleInsider claims.
They also note that the app would be released on Windows Phone 7.5 and Android too, but that the iOS flavor would lead the pack.
The aforementioned Lync app should provide users with better connectivity to Microsoft's unified communications platform, enabling them to take advantage of features such as instant messaging, audio and video chat, and Web conferencing.