Microsoft, Dropbox team up to help people work more effectively

Users can access edit files on their Dopbox accounts using Office, or access files in Dropbox from the Office app

SAN FRANCISCO: Online storage company Dropbox and Microsoft Corp on Tuesday announced a 'strategic partnership' that would allow subscribers to edit their documents online and then share or sync them, said a statement.

The two industry-leading companies announced that they will be integrating their services for collaboration across Dropbox and Microsoft Office on phones, tablets and the Web.

When you select “edit” while you are viewing your document in Dropbox, the appropriate Office app is offered up for editing. Alternatively, users can access Dropbox from Office apps to get to their files and folders faster; edit Office files directly from Dropbox, and sync them across device and share new or edited files from the Office apps using Dropbox's sharing functionality.

The partnership will provide Dropbox's users access to Microsoft's tools to edit 35 billion documents, spreadsheets and presentations.

Over 1.2 billion people around the world already use Office to get work done.

“In our mobile-first and cloud-first world, people need easier ways to create, share and collaborate regardless of their device or platform,” said Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft. “Together, Microsoft and Dropbox will provide our shared customers with flexible tools that put them at the center for the way they live and work today.”

That is why Dropbox said it will be rolling out the feature first on mobile platforms, including iOS and Android in the next few weeks. Next year these features will be extended to the web with integrations between the Dropbox website and Office Online. A Dropbox app for Windows Phone and Windows tablet users is also expected to be launched in the coming months.

“People around the world have embraced Office and Dropbox to empower the way they live and work today,” said Drew Houston, CEO and co-founder of Dropbox. “Our partnership with Microsoft will make it easier than ever to collaborate seamlessly across these platforms, giving people the freedom to get more done.”

While all Office users with a Dropbox account will have access to this facility, Dropbox for Business customers will need an Office 365 subscription.