Microsoft to show Office 2016, Office for Windows 10 apps next week
Microsoft plans to hold an event on April 16 "to experience modern Office on Windows and see how Microsoft is rethinking the modern workplace -- both in the office and on the go," according to an invitation Microsoft sent out Monday.
The event is expected to show off Office "experiences" for Windows 10: both "universal apps" that transcend the desktop, tablet, and phone, as well as specific features of Office 2016. The new apps should be touch-optimized, based on what Microsoft has said previously, and free to use on smaller tablets and phones.
That likely means the new Office apps will be debuting soon as part of an upcoming Windows 10 preview build, as Microsoft said in January. ""They are designed from the ground up to run on Windows 10, built for touch and offer the unmistakable Office experience you know and love," Julia White, the general manager of Office, said then. "As 'universal' Office apps, they truly are the same app across device size, providing a consistent way for independent software vendors and developers to extend and integrate with Office apps."
Office 2016, meanwhile, is scheduled to ship later this year. Microsoft hasn't said anything about the new features that will be integrated into the new suite, but the company is likely keenly aware that Office customers have passed it over because it offered nothing new. It's likely that apps like Sway or at least Delve will be added into the mix. Microsoft has said previously that the new apps will include features like Insights for Office to the suite, allowing you to connect shared documents to data compiled by Bing.
Microsoft has also promised hands-on time with the new apps, meaning we'll be able to report our impressions about how Microsoft's Windows 10 vision is all coming together.
Why this matters: We've previously described Windows 10 as not so much a leap ahead, but as a move that brings Microsoft's ecosystem closer together. So far, much of that public discussion has been about Microsoft making inroads on phones and tablets, and forging a cohesive experience across those multiple platforms. Next week we should see a bit more about how Microsoft plans to tie its software platforms together, namely Windows 10 and Office.