Google announced today that it has acquired QuickOffice and will move to integrate the company's technology with Google Apps. QuickOffice is the developer of mobile apps for Apple iOS, Android, and Symbian devices that allow users to synchronize, edit, and share Microsoft Office documents.
Google Engineering Director Alan Warren announced the deal in a blog post, writing, "Quickoffice has a strong base of users, and we look forward to supporting them while we work on an even more seamless, intuitive, and integrated experience."
Quickoffice's apps currently allow users to access files from cloud storage—including Google Docs, Dropbox, Box, SugarSync, and Evernote. A corporate version allows administrators to designate preferred cloud storage accounts and lock out others, while also having the ability to turn off features like WiFi sharing and copy/paste.
The acquisition gives Google an enterprise-friendly Google Apps front-end for mobile device users. And, as ZDNet's Larry Dignan pointed out, it gives Google a way to counter attempts by Microsoft to displace Android from businesses with Windows 8 on ARM devices. "When you add up the moving parts," Dignan wrote, "Microsoft Office is probably the most compelling reason to use a Windows 8 tablet going forward—at least for businesses."
