Microsoft launches Office for Android, Clearly Embracing a Cross-Platform Approach

Five weeks after Microsoft released a preview of Office for Android, it announced the official launch of the suite of applications.

This release includes Word, Excel and Powerpoint designed in particular for Android phones. This follows the company’s efforts to bring Office to Android tablets as well as iOS devices too.

A number of common tasks will be supported with this release too including reviewing and editing files on the go, pulling up documents from Google Drive, DropBox or Box as well as even presenting PowerPoint presentations from your phone.

These apps replace the older Office Mobile and requires 1 GB RAM as well as Android KitKat (4.4x) but not Android M.

That said, these apps are free to use provided you have a Microsoft account. Also, several advanced features can be unlocked by opting for a Office 365 subscription too. Some of the devices on which these apps will come pre-installed are Sony, LG, Samsung – about 30 OEMs in all. They will be available in retail stores a little later in the year.

Of course, other users don’t have to wait for these phones but can download these three apps from Google Play. Users in China can avail them from a number of alternative app stores including CMCC, Baidu, Xiaomi apart from the Samsung Galaxy Store too.

It’s clear that Microsoft is taking its cross-platform strategy seriously with this release. While some time back, Office was only available on PCs, the company is making sure that its productivity suite is available anywhere. This include its competitors’ OS’ too.

As a result of this move, both the downloads of its iOS and Android downloads had exceeded 100 million.