Readers with very long memories may recall that around a year ago we first brought news that a Microsoft Office app would be coming to iOS devices. All went rather quiet for a while and then in May this year we heard that Microsoft Office apps were likely to arrive in November for both iOS devices and also Android devices. We now hear that Microsoft Office Mobile is still definitely coming to the iPhone, iPad and Android devices but that now the release date will be early next year.

At times we thought we had imagined talk of Microsoft Office apps as not much information had leaked out although at one point there were claims that it had been spotted in the wild. The many people who will be interested in an Office Mobile app though will be pleased to learn that it wasn’t a figment of our imagination, it is in fact real, and that the free Android or iOS apps will be available in 2013, allowing users to view documents and more whilst on the move.

This news comes from The Verge who cite several sources, and users of the Office Mobile app will require a Microsoft account that will give them access to basic app functionality when it launches. The app will provide support for Word, PowerPoint and Excel and if users also want to use Office Mobile Editing they will need an Office 365 subscription. iOS users will be able to purchase the Office 365 subscription within the app or codes for Mobile Editing can be distributed by organizations. However it seems that this editing functionality will be fairly limited and is not intended to fully replace the use of desktop Office.

If you want fuller information on actual release timeframes for the Microsoft Office Mobile apps then it appears that a press release from Microsoft’s Czech Republic subsidiary recently revealed that the Android and iOS apps will appear from March 2013. However The Verge has information that suggests the iOS Office Mobile app will arrive in February or the early part of March next year with the Android app following in May. A Microsoft spokesperson said, “Office will work across Windows Phone, iOS or Android.”

There are sure to be many people following the progress of the Office Mobile apps so we shall continue to pass on further developments as we hear more news. Once again though it seems like Android users will be the last in line to receive the app for their devices, which is sure to rankle with some.

We’d like to know if you’re waiting for Office Mobile, either for iOS or Android? Send your comments to let us know.