This archive report was first published on 6 November 2019.
Microsoft has made its converged Office app available for public testing on Android devices. The app, which was highlighted last month, brings together Word, Excel, and PowerPoint under one roof, with a focus on cloud-based collaboration.
According to Microsoft, the app converges the three applications under its cloud service, OneDrive, where all files created on mobile phones or tablets are stored by default. This means that users can access their recent files from OneDrive and Office 365 immediately, without needing to download or upload files.
The app also features a range of additional tools, including a PDF viewer, a QR code reader, and the ability to take notes that sync with the Sticky Notes app. New documents can be created directly within the app, and users can also scan existing documents to create new files.
Microsoft has made the app available for public testing through a public beta, which can be accessed by registering on the Microsoft website. The app requires at least 1GB of RAM and runs on Android devices with the last four major versions of the operating system, including Android 6.0 (Marshmallow).
The converged Office app features a new logo based on Microsoft's Fluent Design, which is designed to provide a consistent and intuitive user experience across all Microsoft applications.
