Microsoft releases version of Office 365 for Android smartphones

Microsoft has released a version of its office programme Office 365 designed to be used on smartphones with the Google operating system Android.

The app was initially available only for US users through the Google Play Store but is being gradually activated in more countries.

The app allows documents from Excel, Word and PowerPoint to be viewed on mobile devices, edited in limited fashion and shared in the cloud service SkyDrive. Those who subscribe to Office 365 can download the software for free.

The Office app has been available for Apple iPhones for more than a month.

The Office program package is one of the biggest pillars of Microsoft’s business. By repackaging the software for its rivals’ platforms, Microsoft is reacting to the trend to use mobile devices as much as PCs for productivity-type tasks.

The Android operating system dominates the smartphone market followed by Apple’s iOS. Microsoft’s own mobile platform, Windows Phone 8 has only collected a single-digit percent share of the market.