Microsoft is developing a version of its popular Office productivity suite for the iPad, according to The Daily, News Corp’s tablet-only newspaper.

The newspaper quotes unnamed sources as saying that the software company is “actively working on adapating its popular software suite for Apple’s tablet”.

Microsoft already develops Office for Apple’s Mac OS X computer operating system. If it releases the suite for the iPad, it will compete directly with Apple’s own productivity suite for the tablet device, which includes applications such as the Pages word processor and Numbers spreadsheet, which Apple sells individually for US$10 a pop.

The Daily reports that Microsoft is also readying a new version of Office for Mac, which will be released sometime next year; a new version of the suite for Windows is also being developed and will probably be available at the same time or soon after Windows 8, the company’s next desktop operating, goes on sale.

It’s expected the iPad edition of Office will be available before both Windows 8 and Office 2012 for Windows are shipped. — Staff reporter, TechCentral