AppleInsider Staff
The debut of Microsoft's Office suite for mobile devices such as the iPhone and iPad may be later than previously anticipated, with a new report claiming the software is scheduled to debut in late 2014.
The details come from a purported product roadmap obtained by Mary Jo Foley of CNet and published on Wednesday. The alleged details also suggest Microsoft plans to launch a new version of Office for Mac in April of 2014.
The updated versions of Office are revealed in the roadmap as "waves" set to launch across the 2014 calendar year. A source who spoke with Foley said the leaked info was accurate as of at least the start of this year.
The document refers to the project as "Gemini," which is apparently set to include the Metro user interface elements Microsoft has pushed with Windows 8 and Windows Phone. The first product to ship, Gemini Wave 1.0, will be updates for the core apps of Office on Windows: Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote.
Then in April of 2014, Gemini Wave 1.5 is expected to bring about Office for Mac, a refresh of Office for Windows RT, support for Perspective Pixels, and a refresh of the suite on Windows Phone.
Finally, The October 2014 Gemini Wave 2.0 is expected to debut Outlook for Windows RT, in addition to the rumored Office for both Apple's iOS, as well as Google's Android platform.
The latest details from Foley contradict a report from late last year that pegged Office for iOS and Android for a mid-2013 launch. There have been indications for some time that a version of Office for iOS is in development, including a purported iPad screenshot that leaked more than a year ago.
Charles Martin
Christine McKee
Oliver Haslam
William Gallagher
27 Comments
2014?
Hey Microsoft, don't rush to much, that seems like a very aggressive timetable. 7 years to get office on iOS, and 2 full years to port an office update from Windows to Mac? Incredible. Either way, they're doing nothing but shooting themselves in the foot. The longer they keep office off iOS, the more than people will realize how utterly irrelevant it's becoming for most people.
These page curl ads have to freakin' stop.
These page curl ads have to freakin' stop.
Not seeing them with AdBlock. Huzzah!
On topic: it is astonishing how long Microsoft has taken to catch on to whole new classes of devices. I suspect that Office will be successful once it's out, though, as IT departments are comfortable with it. On the other hand, they're also increasingly comfortable with Google Apps.
Microsoft will release office only after the third world war ends,it Microsoft's so called crisis management.....
Woah there! Slow it down! Steady win's the race! There's a whole lot of years left in this century! Why be hasty?
Edit: Maybe I added this up wrong. 2014 is next year, not five years ago, right?