Last week, with build 10080 of Windows 10 Mobile, Windows Insiders were finally able to try out the touch optimized Word, Excel and PowerPoint universal apps on their smart phones.
This week Microsoft has now made those same apps available to Android users in a new Preview Program.
Yes, you read that right - Windows Phone users got something before other platforms did!
According to Microsoft these apps will eventually replace the Office Mobile apps for Android that are currently available for Android users.
As you look through the screenshots below you will find a lot of similarities between the Android and Windows 10 Mobile versions of these apps.
That of course is intentional because, as Microsoft’s CEO Satya Nadella has said many times, it is about the mobility of the experience that is Microsoft’s focus.
Word Preview for Android
Excel Preview for Android
PowerPoint Preview for Android
The company has indicated that the current Office for Android apps will remain in the app store while the new apps are in preview. More details will follow later in the year when they decide on the general availability date for the new apps.
The preview apps bring together what Microsoft calls a familiar and consistent Office experience and gives you the ability to be productive wherever you are with quick access to your documents in various cloud services including Google Drive and Box.
The new preview apps also include the ability to collaborate with your team and, in keeping with Microsoft’s war on the email attachment, you can easily email a hyperlink of the document you are working on.
Ready to join in on the preview?
- Join the Office for Android community.
- Once you join the community, Become a tester by clicking the links to the Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
- Wait for Google Play to replicate permissions (this may take ~up to four hours), click the above mentioned links and then follow the download links to install apps using Google play store.
