New collaboration features to be unveiled for Microsoft Office

Microsoft Office (in this case Word) is available for both desktop and mobile platforms. (Microsoft Office 2016)

Microsoft is to hold a press event focused on the Office suite in New York on November 2, which will follow a briefing on the latest developments for Windows 10 a week earlier.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, along with Office corporate vice president Kirk Koenigsbauer, is set to announce new features for the Office suite and its online services.

No details have been leaked about these announcements as yet. Microsoft has only mentioned that there will be "surprise guests" and that it will be discussing collaboration features aimed at "connecting and creating together". These features may only be available to businesses to start with. In any case, Microsoft will be aiming to stand out from its rival offering Google Docs.

The last event of this kind, which was two years ago, unveiled versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint that were compatible with all Android and iOS mobile devices.

This November 2 press event will follow an October 26 briefing on the future of Windows 10 at which Microsoft could unveil a new all-in-one PC similar to the iMac (code name: Surface Cardinal), as well as upcoming changes to its operating system.

Microsoft says almost 1.5 billion people use some kind of Office product or service.