Microsoft Office arrives to Android phones enabling basic document editing on devices running Android 4.0 or higher. The new set Office apps are mirror on productivity and requirements of the version released for iPhone not too long ago. Users wanting to install Office for Android are required to have an Office 365 subscription, and the software makers will not offer these set of apps individually or free of charge without subscription.
Users with an Office 365 subscription (Home Premium or Pro Plus) will be able to get access to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint from their phones. The apps are pretty similar to the iPhone version and they include the recent documents tab and the option to create a new Excel or Word document.
The new apps are only available for Android smartphones, users who wish to view or edit documents on an Android tablet. Microsoft is advising to use Office Web Apps as there are no immediate plans for such development.
Gallery
Keep in mind that this version of Office has been optimized for mobile devices and neither Word, Excel, or PowerPoint have all the functionalities you’ll find in the full desktop version of the suite. In other words, these Office apps for Android are just companion apps to simply aid you to edit documents by adding comments, formatting, and making some corrections on the go.
As for storage, all documents are automatically stored on Microsoft’s SkyDrive cloud storage solution, even though Android users may be using Google Drive. Also there is not an option to buy Office 365 within the app, which is present in the iPhone version, instead there is a sign-in link for users already with a membership.
Office Mobile for Android smartphones is available now from the Google Play Store only for US customers, but more countries will be supported soon.
Source Office News
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].