Microsoft product manager Petr Bobek has confirmed that the software maker is planning to release native iOS and Android versions of Office 2013 next year. Speaking at a press event in the Czech Republic earlier today, Bobek told Czech site IHNED that native apps will be made available from March 2013.

A press release, seen by The Verge, from Microsoft's Czech Republic team confirms the availability for iOS and Android. "In addition to Windows, Office will be also available on other operating systems, Windows Phone, Windows RT, Mac OS, Android, iOS and Symbian," says Microsoft, while separately noting that there will also be a new version of Office Web Apps too. Office for iPad has long been rumored to be in the works, offering iOS users a way to access Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents from Apple's tablet and phone devices.

The press release also mentions that Office 2013 will be made available to businesses in December, with a consumer launch scheduled for the end of February 2013. "Office 365 services and other Office products for mobile (phones and tablets) will be released from March 2013," says Microsoft.

A US spokesperson for Microsoft tells us that the company has not yet announced retail availability for the new Office. "We have said previously Office Mobile will work across Windows Phones, Android phones and iOS."

Update: Microsoft has released the following statement on the matter:

The information shared by our Czech subsidiary is not accurate. We do not have anything further to share at this time.

Thanks to Čeněk Vašenda and Mikhail Yugov for translations