Microsoft has signed partnerships with 20 new hardware manufacturers to pre-install Skype and Office apps on a range of new Android devices, marking the company’s latest push to expand its mobile footprint beyond Windows devices.
Sony, LG and Haier are among several major manufacturers to sign the strategic agreement, joining Samsung and Dell as Microsoft’s leading partners. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, OneDrive and Skype will roll out to Sony’s newest tablet, the Xperia Z4, within the next 90 days.
“Our aspiration is to continue to build and grow a vibrant community of billions of people who love and rely on Microsoft experiences, on any device, across all aspects of their daily lives,” Microsoft vice president Nick Parker wrote in an official blog post.
New Microsoft Office apps were first released as a free download for iPhone and Android users last year.