Office 2013 For iOS, Android Expected To Arrive In March

Microsoft is planning to release Office 2013 for Apple iOS and Google Android devices by March 2013, according to Microsoft product manager Petr Bobek.

Speaking at a press conference in the Czech Republic on Wednesday, the MS product manager confirmed that the mobile OS version of its popular Microsoft Office suite would arrive for Windows Phone, Windows RT, Mac OS, Android, iOS, and Symbian.

The launch of the mobile products will also include a new update for Office Web Apps, which will be automatically applied to user accounts.

While an iPad version of MS Office has long been rumored, Microsoft has kept quite in terms of confirming or denying leaked screen shots from that program. At this time, there is no native support for Office files via iOS devices. Taking over the role of Microsoft Office editor and viewers have been mobile services that include CloudOn and QuickOffice.

The press release revealed that businesses will have Office 2013 by December while it will arrive to the general public in February.

According to a Microsoft document:

“Office 365 services and other Office products for mobile (phones and tablets) will be released from March 2013.”

While dates are being given, another Microsoft rep says the company has not yet released a release schedule for the mobile app offerings. That same rep does however confirm:

“We have said previously Office Mobile will work across Windows Phones, Android Phones and iOS.”

Are you willing to ditch QuickOffice and other mobile apps for the Microsoft Office Mobile package when it arrives?