Office for iOS revealed, promptly denied by Microsoft
updated 09:03 pm EDT, Wed October 10, 2012
Microsoft Czech Republic affiliate releases info, immediately refuted
Following the remarks from a Czech Microsoft executive claiming imminent availability of Microsoft Office for iOS and Android in March 2013, Microsoft representatives in the US are denying the revealed release dates. Microsoft spokesman Frank X. Shaw publicly disowned the report, saying in a tweet that "the information shared by our Czech Republic subsidiary is not accurate. We have nothing further to share."
The original claim by the Czech Republic team told IHNED that in addition to Windows, "Office will be also available on other operating systems; Windows Phone, Windows RT, Mac OS, Android, iOS and Symbian" as well as a new version of Office web apps as well. An accompanying press release detailed the Office 2013 release as being available to businesses in December 2013, with follow-on consumer availability by the end of February 2013.
A US spokesperson said that the company had not released any availability information on the new Office suite, saying that the company has "said previously Office Mobile will work across Windows Phones, Android phones and iOS."
After rumors emerged in February of a version of Office for the iOS, evidence later appeared that Microsoft had not been developing a version of Office for the iPad. When a purported screenshot of Office for iPad surfaced, Microsoft quickly moved to denounce it as a fake. Given that Office remains a trump card for Microsoft, the software is more likely to make its ARM-based tablet debut on the Surface, rather than any competitor's device.
