Office for Android tablets in the works, early access available

Riding the coattails of the success of Office for iPad, Microsoft is ironing out the wrinkles on a dedicated version for Android tablets and inviting people to participate in a pre-release program.

The private-beta program will test Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for Android tablets, with the aim of having a final version ready later this year. This edition of Office will be touch optimized, and the Android tablet version will be available even before Microsoft will have a companion touch-ready edition for Windows.

There has been an Office suite available for Android phones for the better part of a year, but it is not ideally suited for tablets. Given the success Microsoft had with Office for the iPad, and given the market share of Android tablets, it makes sense that the Office team would put in the effort. The team at Microsoft is also clearly motivated to put out an official offering to those that are apprehensive about using “me too” office suites.

The interface will be optimized for touch like Office for iPad, also like Office for iPad, several feature will be available for free, with enhanced features being part of an in-app purchase option. If this interests you, check out Microsoft’s SharePoint site in the source link below to register your interest if you want to get Office for Android tablets during the beta period.

sources: Microsoft Office Pre-release via The Verge