Microsoft and Dropbox, competitors in the market for cloud file storage, are joining forces in a partnership that plays to each side's strengths. The two companies are teaming up to integrate their services for collaboration across Dropbox and Microsoft Office on phones, tablets and the Web.

"In our mobile-first and cloud-first world, people need easier ways to create, share and collaborate regardless of their device or platform," said Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft. "Together, Microsoft and Dropbox will provide our shared customers with flexible tools that put them at the center for the way they live and work today."

This partnership will enable people at work, home and school to collaborate on documents, spreadsheets and presentations. These capabilities will first be available from within the Dropbox and Office apps on tablets and phones, and will soon be accessible via the Web.

Dropbox and Microsoft users will be able to access Dropbox from Office apps; edit Office files directly from Dropbox and sync them across devices and; share new or edited files from the Office apps using simple Dropbox sharing functionality.

The functionality will first be included in the next updates to the Office apps for iOS and Android, coming in the next few weeks. The Web integrations between the Dropbox website and Office Online will be available in the first half of 2015. Dropbox will also make its application available on the Windows Phone and Windows tablet platforms in the coming months.

These capabilities will be available to all Office users with a Dropbox account. Dropbox for Business customers will need an Office 365 subscription. services, devices and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.