MICROSOFT

Microsoft Partnering With 20 New Android OEMs To Preinstall Office Apps On Tablets

Microsoft recently partnered with a handful of regional manufacturers as well as companies like Dell and Samsung to have their Office apps preinstalled on devices by default. And now, the company has added 20 more companies to the list, taking the tally to 31.

But in this newly signed deal, Microsoft is partnering primarily with tablet OEMs including the likes of LG and Sony. Microsoft has mentioned that the Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet will be part of this program with apps set to make their way over the coming 90 days. The company has also mentioned that an upcoming LG tablet will be part of this program.

Among the list of manufacturers mentioned by Microsoft, only LG and Sony belong to the global scale while the rest are regional OEMs with limited reach. By bringing Office apps on Android devices by default, Microsoft hopes to significantly increase marketshare of its newly released Office Mobile products.

Buyers of the aforementioned devices will get access to apps like Word, Powerpoint, Excel, Skype, OneDrive and OneNote, so you will be covered as far as productivity apps are concerned. In its bid to build a new home on rival mobile platforms, Microsoft yesterday announced the arrival of its Cortana voice assistant on Android and iOS devices, so this is part of a bigger plan from the Redmond giant.

Although the number stands at 31 OEMs right now, we expect more names to be added to the list over the coming months.

[Microsoft]