Microsoft already has a service for storing files and content in the cloud, and it would obviously prefer you use OneDrive over any competing service. But today’s move shows that the company is willing to open up to a service that is widely used by both individual and business users for storing files. Microsoft announced a partnership with Dropbox today which allows users to open files stored in their Dropbox accounts directly within Office applications.
Over the coming weeks Microsoft is going to update the Office applications so that they work with Dropbox. The updates will be released for Word, Excel and PowerPoint on iOS and Android which will then allow users to connect to their Dropbox account. Files shared in those accounts can then be accessed, edited and shared from right within Office apps.
Once the accounts are linked jumping to Office from the Dropbox app is just as easy. Navigate to the file and it will open in the corresponding Office application. Any changes made during an edit will be automatically saved back to Dropbox. Users can also invite others by sharing a link to the file on Dropbox from within Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
Microsoft has said that the updates will be released for iOS and Android over the next few weeks. It also promises to make Dropbox and Office online work together next year.
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