Dropbox to get Office integration and Windows phone app

Microsoft has signed a deal with Dropbox to give the cloud storage company complete integration with Office apps on smartphones, tablets and the web.

It means the Office suite of apps will have a direct built-in link with Dropbox to let you access, edit and save documents.

• Access Dropbox from Office apps to get to their files and folders faster.

• Edit Office files directly from Dropbox and sync them across devices.

• Share new or edited files from the Office apps using simple Dropbox sharing functionality.

Microsoft says the new functions will be included in the next updates for Office apps on iOS and Android "in the next few weeks" and web integration will be in the "first half of 2015".

One thing you may find strange, and sadly lacking, in all this is an official Dropbox app for Windows phones.

That's because there isn't one.

But, rejoice, Microsoft says that will be put right "in the coming months" with the release of a pukka, official Dropbox app for Microsoft's own smartphone OS.

No news, though, on when or if Office apps on Windows phones will be updated to include the Dropbox links.

Surely Redmond won't - again - leave Windows phones out in the cold when it provides new functions for similar apps on its Android and Apple OS rivals.

Surely not.

(Source: Microsoft)