Microsoft have pledged to make a version of the Office business software package for Apple Computers new operating system, giving a big boost to the company as Apple struggles with poor sales.
Office for Apple's Macintosh OS X operating system would be available this Autumn, Mr Kevin Browne, general manager of Microsoft's Macintosh unit, told an audience at the Macworld Expo in San Francisco.
"Microsoft loves OS X, at least our division does. Other divisions might be sweating a bit," Mr Browne said, in a joking reference to Microsoft's Windows operating system that competes with Apple products.
Office includes applications such as the Word document creator, Excel spreadsheet and PowerPoint presentation software. It is Microsoft's second-biggest profit generator, after Windows, and is regarded as crucial to the survival of Apple's machines because there are few popular alternatives.
Mr Browne's comments marked the first time that Microsoft has promised to support the new Apple system, which is a significant departure from its earlier software.
Reuters