According to a new The Verge report, software giant Microsoft has plans underway to bring out mobile versions of Microsoft Office software for the iOS and Android platforms next year.

As per the report, citing several unidentified sources `in the know' of proceedings at Microsoft, the Microsoft Office productivity suite will apparently become available for Apple's popular iOS devices in February or March 2013, and for the devices running Google's Android OS in May.

Despite the fact that a Microsoft spokesperson refused to confirm The Verge's report, and merely said that "Office will work across Windows Phone, iOS and Android," the report is nonetheless in line with Microsoft's early-October press release, in which the company first disclosed that it intends making the Office Mobile app for iOS and Android available early next year.

Meanwhile, The Verge's sources further revealed, on the condition of anonymity, that the Office Mobile app from Microsoft will be `free;' and will essentially enable the users of iOS and Android devices to check out their Microsoft Office documents when they are on the go.

Initially, Microsoft Office software will be made available as free apps - which will include Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; and will require the users to have a Microsoft account - which will be `read-only'; which means that users of iOS and Android devices will only be able to view documents, presentations or spreadsheets on their devices, but will not be able to make any changes to them.