Microsoft is slowly working on making their popular Office tools available to users across different software platforms. Just last year, Microsoft Office tools came to Android smartphones that allowed for only the basic of editing tools to documents. The app was only available for smartphones, and users were hoping that they would get a taste of Microsoft on Android tablets. Now, Microsoft is ready to begin testing a suite of Microsoft Office on Android tablets and is asking for users to test the app.
Almost exactly one year ago, Microsoft released an app that ran on Android smartphones. The app allowed users to edit any document that was created in any of the Microsoft Office applications. However, users needed to sign into their Office 365 subscription in order to start editing. Users could also create Word and Excel documents on their Android smartphones and Microsoft claimed there were no plans for bringing the app to any tablets. Instead, Microsoft asked consumers to just use web based applications on their tablets. However, things have shifted, and Microsoft has seen the benefit to having the apps available on Android tablets.
The Microsoft Office app for Android tablets won’t be available until later this year, however there are ways to get in on the action sooner than that. According to sources close to the project, Microsoft is accepting consumers who want to test the software privately on their devices. In order to get into the testing phase of the app, interested parties must register with Microsoft on their pre-release SharePoint site (link below).
When released, the Microsoft app is expected to be a touch-based Office Suite. Though the release date is unknown, it’s expected to release before Microsoft’s own touch based Office Suite app for Windows-based devices. The Windows version is set to release in early 2015. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella tweeted that “We will not be bound to one app, one device, in one place.” Which only reiterates Microsoft’s plans to improve Office for Mac. The tablet app for Android will also be the second largest push the company has made to enter different OS versions.
Earlier this year, Microsoft released a version of their Office app to Apple tablets. Both Android and Apple will have similar app capabilities on the tablet.