Yesterday there was some pretty hot news going around various tech sites about Microsoft Office being released for Android and iOS. The story was widely reported and popular on news sites such as The Verge and Mashable. Now it turns out that Microsoft’s Czech Republic subsidiary source of that information was in error. The head of Microsoft corporate communications has since made it known that the rumours were “not accurate”.
iOS and Android versions of Office Mobile and their release schedules have been rumoured before. The software is the biggest name in office suites and serves many users well, day-in and day-out on their laptop and desktop computers. Users of mobile devices, other than Windows Phone users who already have the software, are understandably keen to have Microsoft Office on their smartphones and tablets in order to edit office standard documents without mashing them into a dog’s dinner.
Yesterday, via a Microsoft Czechoslovakia press release about Office 2013, news sites pounced upon one particular quote from Microsoft product manager Petr Bobek; “Office 365 services and other Office products for mobile (phones and tablets) will be released from March 2013. In addition to Windows, Office will be also available on other operating systems, Windows Phone, Windows RT, Mac OS, Android, iOS and Symbian”.
However last night the head of Microsoft corporate communications division, Frank Shaw, made it clear that “The information shared by our Czech Republic subsidiary is not accurate.” Though scotching the rumours he didn’t help us by saying what we could accurately expect in relation to a version of Office for Android and iOS “We have nothing further to share.” He wrote to close his Tweet. (see below)
Releasing Office Mobile for iOS and Android devices is an important strategic decision for Microsoft and it sounds like they haven’t really decided when, or if ,to take the plunge at this time.
