Microsoft's Nadella said to unveil Office for iPad

Microsoft Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Satya Nadella will begin unveiling his vision for the company when he debuts a version of Office for Apple's iPad and offers some features of the application for free at an event next week, said people with knowledge of the announcement.

The Redmond, Washington-based company will introduce Office for the iPad with limited capabilities that can be upgraded to premium versions requiring a subscription to the Office 365 internet-based software, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the plans weren't public. At the event, on March 27 in San Francisco, Nadella will also discuss his commitment to software services that work on Microsoft's Windows and rival operating systems, the people said on Monday.

The event will be Nadella's first public appearance at a product roll-out since he was appointed CEO last month, replacing Steve Ballmer. His presence underscores how the company, whose Windows software remains a mainstay on personal computers, is trying to catch up in the mobile-software market. Microsoft released a paid version of Office for the iPhone last year and has various iPad applications, yet is grappling with how to balance helping Windows succeed on devices while selling software for rival products that dominate the market.

Twin priorities
In his first day as CEO last month, Nadella had emphasised Microsoft's focus on devices and cloud services and said those priorities would "define Microsoft". An official invitation to next week's event also described it as a "briefing and news focused on the intersection of cloud and mobile computing".

Dawn Beauparlant, a spokeswoman, declined to comment. Office for iPad was earlier reported by technology blog The Verge. The March 27 event precedes Microsoft's Build confab for Windows software developers, to take place in San Francisco starting April 2. At Build, Microsoft plans to introduce an updated Windows Phone 8.1, as well as its rival to Apple's Siri voice-controlled assistant, code-named Cortana, said the people familiar with the matter.

Microsoft opted for two separate events since Build is focused on Windows developers and didn't seem the right place for a product roll-out focused on Apple users, said the people.
OFFICE LOOKS FOR A BREAKTHROUGH

• Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella will begin unveiling his vision for the company when he debuts a version of Office for Apple's iPad
• The event will be on March 27 in San Francisco
• Microsoft will introduce Office for the iPad with limited capabilities that can be upgraded to premium versions