14 DAY TRIAL // iPhones could soon get a custom Microsoft Office app that would include all the core features of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, all under one roof for a more streamlined and straightforward approach of working with documents.
Already available on Samsung phones as part of the partnership between Microsoft and the South Korean smartphone manufacturer, the so-called Office Mobile app could make its way to iOS devices with a similar concept, according to a report by ZDNet.
The project is reportedly codenamed Unity and is developed in India, with a similar app expected to be pre-installed on Surface Duo next year.
Surface Duo is Microsoft’s dual-screen Android device that is projected to hit the shelves by the holiday season in 2020.
Possibly coming to Android as well
As per the description of Microsoft Office Mobile in the Galaxy App Store, this lightweight app includes all the benefits of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint in just one package. Office 365 subscriptions are also available within the app to “unlock the full Microsoft Office experience.”
“The trusted Microsoft Office apps that let you create, edit, view and share files are now available for download as a single convenient app. Office Mobile includes the complete Word, PowerPoint, and Excel apps to offer a convenient office experience on the go,” the app description reads.
For now, there’s still no ETA as to when the new Office app could go live on iOS, but one thing is clear: Microsoft doesn’t want this to happen overnight, so it clearly takes it time to get it right.
The Office Mobile app isn’t yet available on Android, albeit it’s offered on Samsung devices. The app can’t be downloaded from the Google Play Store, so presumably Microsoft will soon release it on both Android and iOS for a more consistent approach on all mobile devices.