Microsoft has finally launched an Office Mobile app for iPhone users – what a shame it’s only for US iPhone users with an Office 365 subscription.
Any American Office 365 Home Premium and Office 365 ProPlus subscribers now have access to the Office Mobile app on the iPhone, allowing users to view, edit and create Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel directly from their iPhone.
“We are excited to be adding even more value to our Office 365 subscriptions with the new Office Mobile for iPhone!” writes Pat Fox, Microsoft Office's Senior Director of Product Marketing on the official Microsoft blog. “Office Mobile now enables iPhone users to access, view, and edit their Office Documents on the go, similar to what is already preinstalled today on Windows Phone 8.”
Unfortunately, the long-awaited arrival of Microsoft Office Mobile on iOS devices has been tarnished by its current US exclusivity and the fact it isn’t offered for iPad users.
Microsoft instead suggests that iPad users opt for the Office Web Apps, but has yet to give any details as to whether the Office Mobile app will be available in the UK.
“Office Mobile is designed for people on the move,” reads the official announcement. “We made it quick and easy to access your Office content in the cloud on SkyDrive or SkyDrive Pro. When you’re on your phone, you’ll easily find the content you viewed on your computer in the Recent Documents panel.”
Working in a similar way to the iWorks suite on Mac and iOS devices, the Office Mobile app for iOS synchs all documents edited and viewed on Office 365 irrespective of platform.
Office 365 Home Premium subscriptions in the UK cost £79.99 per year or £7.99 a month. It is only compatible with Windows 8, Windows 7 and Mac OS X 10.6 or later, but can be installed on up to 5 PCs or Macs.
The Office Mobile app doesn’t cost any more for Office 365 Home Premium subscribers, but the iPhone must be an iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5 or 5th-generation iPod Touch all running iOS 6.1 or later.
Unfortunately, anyone without an Office 365 subscription will have to sign up for one to use Office Mobile and there are no discounts for only using the mobile option, or whether the mobile option is compatible with older Office iterations.
Next, read our iPhone 5 tips and tricks.
