Microsoft Office is for some a key feature of Microsoft's new Surface tablet.

While a range of programs for iOS and Android provide compatibility with Office document formats (eg, Polaris Office for Android), some people still hanker for the real thing - particularly if some seemingly minor shortcoming of an alternative affects the way they work.

Back in February there was a flurry of excitement when The Daily claimed to have used "a working prototype" of Microsoft Office for iPad.

Microsoft's response that the story "is based on inaccurate rumors and speculation" seemed carefully phrased to cast doubt on the story without actually denying iOS version of Office was under development.

Now there is a fresh round of rumours, seemingly originating from a report at The Verge that "several sources close to Microsoft's plans" say versions of Office for iOS and Android will be released in early 2013.

If the report is correct, Microsoft will offer free Office viewer apps. Basic editing will be enabled when they are used in conjunction with an Office 365 subscription.

And subscribing to Office 365 for a just a few months would cost as much as many people seem prepared to pay for a perpetual licence to an app.

At it is, the reported plan seems more like a way to make it easier for Office 365 subscribers to use non-Microsoft tablets rather than a way of bringing Office to tablet users.