Microsoft seals deal with Acer to pre-install apps on Android phones and tablets

Microsoft today announced that Acer is joining the list of companies that have agreed to pre-install some of the Redmond giant's applications on Android devices. Thus, starting the second half of this year, select Acer-made smartphones and tablets will come with various Microsoft apps and services pre-installed - including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Skype, OneNote, and OneDrive.

Acer is not a big name in the smartphone space, though it's constantly releasing handsets under the Liquid brand (which also includes some Windows-based phones). The company is more successful when it comes to tablets, thanks to its Iconia series of slates - and perhaps the gaming-oriented Predator 8 (pictured above) will also make a splash. Anyway, we currently don't know anything about the upcoming Android-based Acer devices that will have Microsoft apps on board.

Previously, Samsung, LG, Sony, and others have agreed to pre-install Microsoft apps on select Android devices. Microsoft says that, right now, around the world, it has no less than 74 hardware partners that are pre-installing its apps on Android products. All in all, it looks like, slowly but surely, Microsoft is sealing similar deals with pretty much every major and not-so-major Android vendor. Soon enough, most new Android phones and tablets may come with Microsoft apps on board by default. This is a pretty big thing for Microsoft, as the company isn't doing well with Windows for phones - which, despite being the world's third smartphone OS, holds a modest market share (under 2%).

Usually, pre-installed apps are not fan favorites, but at least Microsoft's apps for Android can be useful (not to mention the fact that most of them are highly-rated in Google Play store, which means users appreciate them).

source: Microsoft