Microsoft is currently developing a beta version of its Office productivity suite optimised for Android tablets that will soon be tested with a select number of users. According to reports Microsoft is planning a full launch later this year.
Microsoft has been improving its Microsoft Office Online to compete with Google Docs and is reportedly looking for volunteers to test beta versions of its Office software. The “pre-release program” includes Microsoft's compete productivity suite, including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, OneNote, Publisher, Outlook and Access. The company is also asking Business users to sign up to test beta versions of Exchange, Project and SharePoint.
Microsoft's Office for iPad was a huge success with over 27 million downloads in 46 days. It makes sense for the Redmond-based tech giant to address the Android tablet market as well. Apart from launching Microsoft office for Android, Microsoft is also planning to debut a touch version for Office for Windows in 2015.
Earlier this year, Gartner forecast that more than 1 billion Android devices will be sold in 2014, roughly three times the number of iOS/OS X or Windows devices. Microsoft has been focusing on getting its services across as many platforms as possible.
“Our goal continues to be to delight users wherever they are and on whatever device they are using by giving them the full power of native Office apps,” so said incoming Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella in a blog post entitled “A cloud for everyone, on every device” back in March.