Microsoft has unveiled a version of its popular Office software suite for iPad tablets as the company's new chief moved to expand its "internet cloud" footprint.
Newly anointed Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella laid out a vision of making the company the master of programs and services offered in the cloud for whatever gadgets people prefer.
The US technology titan underscored that goal with the release of Office software tailored for iPads made by longtime rival Apple.
"Today is the first step on a journey to make this a great innovation vector for all of Microsoft," Nadella said in his first press briefing at the helm of the company.
"We are committed to making our applications run cross-platform."
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The news comes with Microsoft's Surface having only limited impact in the fast-growing tablet market led by Apple and its iPad.
Nadella said he wants to provide full-feature versions of its widely-used programs available for all types of devices as one aspect of Microsoft's overall strategy under his watch.
He was adamant that the company is committed to Windows operating systems for powering computers and promised more along those lines would be revealed at Microsoft's "build" conference for developers next week in San Francisco.
"There is no trade-off," Nadella said of offering programs and cloud services for devices that compete with Windows-powered smartphones, tablets or computers.
"It is about being able to excel where ever our customers are."
