Microsoft Office Android App Available Free To Office 365 Subscribers

Microsoft Office 365 subscribers can now read, share and edit documents on their Android smartphones after an official application was submitted to the Google Play marketplace.

Office comes pre-loaded on Windows Phone 8 smartphones, but Microsoft has been expanding access to the suite as a way of adding value to its Office 365 subscribers. An iPhone application was released on the Apple App Store last month.

The Android app is initially only available in US, but Microsoft has promised it will become available to 177 markets in the coming weeks, meaning a UK release is unlikely to be far off.

Microsoft Office Android

The application allows users to access Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents which retain their original formatting when they are accessed on different devices, with support for charts, animations, SmartArt graphics and shapes all included.

Office features include support for Microsoft’s SkyDrive cloud storage service and a recent document list means files can be accessed quickly while on the move. Additionally, the resume reading feature means a document can be resumed on a smartphone from exactly the same point it was left on a PC.

Other enhancements for the small screen include improve navigation for PowerPoint and speaker notes that allow users to prepare for presentations. However, just like the iOS version excluded iPads, it appears as though there is no native support for Android tablets.

Earlier this month, Microsoft made an official Outlook app for iPhone and iPad available for free to Office 365 subscribers as a way of attracting more subscribers.

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