Microsoft has unveiled a preview of its new Office software as a cloud service which will allow users to save documents direct to company’s cloud-based Sky Drive.
The new Office includes the desktop version of Microsoft Office 2013 and Office 365, a subscription-based version which will be offered as a service rather than a traditional download version.
Microsoft chief executive SteveBallmer said the new, modern Office will deliver unparalleled productivity and flexibility for both consumers and business customers.
"It is a cloud service and will fully light-up when paired with Windows 8," he added.
The company noted the latest cloud-friendly offering was designed as a service first for businesses and consumers and is the most ambitious release of Microsoft Office that it has ever done.
The next release is designed to work with touch, stylus, mouse or keyboard across new Windows devices, including tablets.
The new Office responds to touch as it does to computer keyboard and mouse, the company said, and users can read documents and presentations, author new content and access features with the touch of a finger.
It also offers new Windows 8 applications, with OneNote and Lync, the first such applications for Office that are designed to deliver touch-first experiences on a tablet.
Microsoft said the Office saves documents to its SkyDrive by default, making users content available across tablets, PC and phone as well as offline and sync when they reconnect.
The new Office is available as a cloud-based subscription service and subscribers will automatically get future upgrades in addition to various cloud services including Skype world minutes and extra SkyDrive storage.
Office update takes advantage of its recently acquired Yammer which offers integration with SharePoint and Microsoft Dynamics.
Microsoft’s new office productivity suite lets users to share documents on Facebook and LinkedIn accounts, follow people, teams, documents and sites in SharePoint and integrate Skype contacts into Lync and call or instant message anyone on Skype.
It also offers digital note-taking keeping notes handy in the cloud and across multiple devices with OneNote and reading and markup tools and meetings features.
While the full lineup of offerings and pricing plans will be announced in the fall while the company will offer three new Office 365 subscription services.
Each new subscription offer will include the new 2013 editions of the Office applications, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Publisher and Access.
