Microsoft unveils new Office 365 APIs and SDKs for iOS and Android

As if giving Office 365 subscribers unlimited OneDrive storage was not enough, Microsoft today has some more news relating to its office suite. Previously only available as previews, a batch of new Office 365 APIs open up new opportunities for developers to tap into Office with their own apps. With APIs available for mail, files, calendar and contacts, there's lots of potential for the future.

One of the first big names to take advantages of the new APIs is IFTTT, the online automation service. The new APIs mean that it is possible for IFTTT to react to things that happen in Office applications -- so it is possible set up an alert when an email matching certain criteria arrives. There are also updates to the Android and iOS SDKs for developers to work with.

The announcement at TechEd Europe also suggested other usage scenarios for the new APIs -- such as travel apps that connect with users' calendars, and sales apps that integrate with files and emails. Microsoft explains that "these new robust REST-based APIs empower all developers to leverage the more than 400 petabytes of data (as of March 2014) and popular services across Office 365 in any application".

Microsoft is keen for Office to spread to as many platforms as possible, and this is demonstrated by the mobile SDKs. The SDKs will be welcomed by Android and iOS developers who will now find it easier than ever to integrate their apps with Office 365. Rounding off today's batch of developer-pleasing announcements is news about the Office 365 app launcher. Developers will now be able to easily push their apps to the launcher so they appear alongside the likes of Word and Outlook.

from BetaNews http://feeds.betanews.com/~r/bn/~3/q4OqrH5jlyU/

via IFTTT