The iOS version of Microsoft Office is ready to release, it has been claimed.
Reuters, citing “people close to the company”, reported that a full iPhone and iPad version of the productivity suite is ready for launch, with its launch only requiring the approval of Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.
The development of the software for mobile platforms had been intensified by Microsoft in response to a growing number of competitor apps, the sources added.
"We have some pretty exciting plans," said Office marketing executive John Case regarding the launch.
"Certainly, interest in Office on the iPad is extreme. When [customers] want to do real work, they are going to want to use Office."
"Office is being disenfranchised on the hottest growth platforms," commented analyst Rick Sherlund of Nomura.
"Maybe it is time to focus on Office independent of Windows."
"Look at the applications that are on the rise to support mobile. It is not Microsoft OneNote or Word. It's Dropbox, or Evernote," added Ted Schadler, an analyst at research firm Forrester, on the growing rivals Microsoft's aging software is facing.
"It's really about being everywhere. That's an important, immediate decision that Satya's going to have to drive."

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