Microsoft has just released the beta version of MS Office 2013 and the new version has incorporated new features which makes it using it as a "brand new experience". The new features for MS Office 15 goes hand-in-hand with the newest OS from Microsoft which is Windows 8.

Steve Ballmer, the CEO for Microsoft, described the MS Office 13 as "the most ambitious release of Microsoft Office that we've ever done." Ballmer further explained the new MS Office 2013 as "the first round of Office that's been designed from the get go for Office to be a service."

Here are the top features for MS Office 2013:

Cloud Service

The incorporation of a Cloud features for MS Office 2013 is really what defined the MS Office 2013 into becoming a "service". Through this, people would be able to access, edit and save documents in any type of Windows-based device from any type of location. Microsoft is actually offering MS Office 2013 users to purchase MS Office through subscription. Microsoft offers new Office 264 subcription services which includes Home Premium with 20GB of SkyDrive storage for families and consumers, Small Business Premium with email, conferencing and web site tools, and ProPlus for enterprise users. This subscription could be used in either PCs or Mac.

Touch Controls

Microsoft also has plans to integrate MS Office 2013 in tablets which is the reason why MS Office 2013 is already integrating touch controls. Through this feature, different functions of the MS Office 2013 can easily be changed and accessed through touch controls. As reported before, Microsoft is also planning to release their own "Surface" tablets and integrating touch controls would help tablet users in utilising MS Office for their computing needs. There is also a feature for utilising stylus which would help users especially in terms of their reporting and presentation needs.

Utilising Social Media

Microsoft has embraced the fact that people are now living in the social media world through integrating social media in MS Office 2013. A new version of Sharepoint would be updated in MS Office 2013 and it would include newsfeeds and sharing tools that would be like Facebook or Google Plus. Skype calls, Lync communications and online meeting services, and Yammer would also be utilised in MS Office 2013. This would mean an easier way of sharing and exchanging of information and communicating.

MS Office 2013 is expected to be officially released by October, 2012. Users who want to preview the MS Office 2013 could download the Consumer Preview from Microsoft's official Web site.