Microsoft gives a glimpse of Office 2013 on Windows RT tablet

Since the beginning of this year, Microsoft has been talking about its key products - Windows 8. The company’s TechEd keynote was no different and it was kept very elementary, as though they believed that people at the event had never seen or even read about Windows 8, before that day. However, the only new bit of information available now comes in the form of a quick glimpse of the newest Office version that is supposedly codenamed Office 15 on Windows RT tablet, reports ZDnet. Linda Averett, Director of Program Management allowed a quick glimpse of Excel, while demoing Windows on ARM. The software was called the ‘Preview of Office 2013 RT.’ Needless to say, Windows RT is the name given to Windows on ARM.

Click to enlarge..(Image Credit: Rafael Rlivera of WithinWindows.com)

It is known that ARM devices running the next generation of Windows (Windows RT) will come with Office 15 that includes access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote. This new suite has been designed keeping in mind touch input and power consumption. Compared to Office 2010, Office 15 is said to feature a flatter look. The Office suite for Windows on ARM (WOA) is expected to be more app like, instead of having the traditional look.

Reportedly, Microsoft has refused to offer further details, like if these are full versions of Office apps or whether they will be preloaded on all Windows ARM tablets, and so on. The company supposedly plans to make a public beta of Office 15 available, later this year. Many testers have also said that documentation mentions Office 2013, as the name of the final product for the Office 15 apps (so, Office 15 is likely to be the codename).

Antoine Leblond, Corporate Vice President, Windows Web Services displayed some prototype business apps for Windows 8 during the keynote. Windows 8 is speculated to roll out in the next couple of months, while Office 2013 is expected to hit markets by early next year.