Office preloaded on Android devices

Microsoft eager to extend its services beyond Windows

If it can’t sell customers on Windows, Microsoft’s Plan B has been to bring its services to other platforms. In March, it did just that, porting Office to Android tablets made by Samsung, Dell, and others.

For Samsung, the Office deal represents an expanded partnership with Microsoft. At Mobile World Congress, Samsung announced that it would pre-install OneNote, OneDrive and Skype to its Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge phones. Samsung also pre-announced the Office partnership with Microsoft, as an executive claimed it would be marketed as part of its KNOX security solution for phones and tablets.

That’s partially true. Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, OneDrive and Skype will be pre-installed on select Android tablets, both companies said Monday. Businesses that purchase devices through Samsung’s business-to-business sales channels will have access to three versions of Office 365 – Business, Business Premium and Enterprise – coupled with Samsung’s KNOX security solution, Microsoft said. The bundle also includes a setup and support service from Samsung.

Most people will see Microsoft’s Office suite as a useful addition to an Android tablet. A one-year trial of Office 365 materially contributes to the value of the device. The flip side, however, is that Android users, long used to living without Office, may see its sudden appearance as bloatware, even if they can uninstall it.

But while Samsung was the biggest name to sign up for Microsoft’s Office 365, it was not the only one. Microsoft signed similar deals with 11 other hardware partners, including Dell in the United States, to port the Office apps to other Android platforms.

All will pre-install Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, OneDrive and Skype on Android devices coming to market later this year, Microsoft said.