A new Apple version of Microsoft Office is on the way later this year, Microsoft confirmed at CeBIT. The fully updated Office suite will offer the same functionality as the PC version, Microsoft's Thorsten Hübschen confirmed at this week's CeBIT tech fair in Hanover, Germany.

The last time Microsoft launched a new Mac edition of Office was back in 2010. Since then, the company has just released a software update that enabled it to be used with the Office 365 subscription.

Microsoft has offered full support to an Apple version of Office for five years, meaning that the latest version of Office is only two years away from retirement.

Apple owners that have upgraded to the Office 365 subscription via "Office:mac 2011" will receive the new version free of charge when it launches before the end of 2014.