Microsoft to launch Office for iOS and Android?

Microsoft will launch Office apps running natively on iOS and Android next year, according to a Czech website.

Speaking at a press event in the country, Microsoft's product manager Petr Bobek said the platforms will be available in March 2013, with further media reports allegedly Office would be coming to Symbian as well.

"Office Mobile will work across Windows Phones, Android phones and iOS, and we have nothing additional to announce today about retail availability of the new Office," Microsoft told CNET.

Yet despite the announcement Microsoft has been downplaying the launch over the weekend, telling journalists the Czech press release sent out was a mistake and wasn't an official comment from the company.

In another twist, however, The Verge claims to have seen the release and reported the following:

"In addition to Windows, Office will be also available on other operating systems, Windows Phone, Windows RT, Mac OS, Android, iOS and Symbian," the site says of Microsoft.

"Office 365 services and other Office products for mobile (phones and tablets) will be released from March 2013."

But when quizzed, a U.S. spokesperson for Microsoft said:

"We have said previously Office Mobile will work across Windows Phones, Android phones and iOS.

"The information shared by our Czech subsidiary is not accurate.

"We do not have anything further to share at this time."