Microsoft seeks Office for Android testers as it readies tablet version

Microsoft may have released a basic Office app for Android phones almost a year ago, but the company is now building a suite designed specifically for Android tablets. The upcoming release, expected later this year, will join Microsoft’s Office for iPad version as the second major tablet-focused push for the Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

The company is currently preparing a private beta test for the Office Android tablet version, and is accepting participants through a special pre-release program. Companies and individuals can register their interest in testing pre-release versions of Office over at Microsoft’s SharePoint site.

Office for Android tablets is expected to include a touch-optimized interface that’s similar to the Office for iPad version. The Android version will reportedly launch ahead of Microsoft’s own finger-friendly version of Office for Windows, which is currently scheduled for early 2015.