Microsoft, to integrate Dropbox more closely into Office

In an unexpected announcement today, Microsoft and Dropbox revealed they were joining forces to integrate Dropbox more closely into Office.

The link-up would allow Office files to be edited directly from the Dropbox mobile app, with the changes synced across devices. It worked the other way too with access to Dropbox from within Office.

The app would also allow Dropbox links to be directly shared from within the Office app. The next few weeks would see the changes rolled out to all users of Dropbox for Android and iOS.  The links would also be available for Dropbox for Business customers with Office 365 licenses too.

The official blog of the software giant also confirmed that connections would be added to both Dropbox and Office Online web services next year.

Writing on the Dropbox for Business blog Ilya Fushman, head of product for Dropbox and Dropbox for Business said, "With this partnership, we're bringing the magic of the Dropbox and Office desktop experiences to mobile and the web.

What does that mean for you? In short: boundless productivity. You'll be able to edit Office documents right from your Dropbox mobile app, and access your Dropbox from within your Office apps".

The shift in priorities reflected chief executive officer Satya Nadella's desire to compete in internet-based cloud services and in mobile, which was central to his strategy to turn around the world's largest software maker, Bloomberg reported.

By getting as many people as possible to adopt Microsoft Office, he was making sure that the company's products remained in wide use as customers moved from desktop computers to smaller devices.

Bloomberg quoted Wes Miller, an analyst at Kirkland, Washington-based Directions on Microsoft, as saying that it was not so much about making sure that Windows was the first and foremost, it was making sure Microsoft services were available regardless of what device was in use.

Dropbox, which counts 300 million users, was valued at $10 billion at the time it raised financing in January. The San Francisco-based company was also known for turning down Steve Jobs, Apple's late CEO's acquisition offer in late 2009.