Updated Office for Windows Phone coming soon, Microsoft hints

Joe Belfiore Microsoft Build Conference 2014

Lately, Microsoft has focused mobile software efforts on the platforms it competes with. It’s part of a cross-platform “going where the users are” strategy, which is smart if hardware sales are lagging behind those of competitors. Perhaps that’s why Microsoft Office for Windows Phone doesn’t yet have some of the new more touch-friendly features currently found in Office for iOS and Android.

office for ipad

It appears that will change soon, based on comments made by Joe Belfiore, the corporate vice president of Microsoft’s Operating Systems Group.

Windows Central reported Belfiore’s statements, which he made in a post on Weibo, a China-based microblogging site. Here’s the relevant excerpt, explaining that Microsoft Office for Windows Phone hasn’t been forgotten:

First … as we end our 2014, I want to acknowledge the comments and letter you all have sent, noting that you’ve been frustrated seeing Microsoft launch applications like Office on iOS and Android, without accompanying news around what will happen on Windows Phone. I want to assure you that our Office team has not forgotten Windows Phone – we’re just aligning all of our news and announcements to a single event. You’ll hear much more about what we have planned before Chinese New Year.

Chinese New Year is on February 19, so in a worst-case scenario, Office for Windows Phone should see a refresh within six weeks or so. Microsoft previously announced its Windows 10 event for January 21, making it possible that an updated Office app for phones will appear — or at least be announced and shown off — even sooner.

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