Apple’s dominion over the mobile market been undermined as Android, and later Windows Phone 7, started to gain popularity and set out on the growth path they’re following today. All this competition resulted in a great deal of innovation, and piggybacking on a competing OS’s popularity is one novelty that never gets old.

Throughout 2011 and to a lesser extent this year as well, Microsoft’s mobile strategy relied in part on systematically suing Android OEMs for patent royalties.  This week an anonymous leak suggests that an upcoming battle with Apple may just prove to be not nearly as bloody, and iOS users may soon have access to a fully optimized version of Office.

Citing an unnamed source, BGR’s John Gellar says that Microsoft is apparently planning to release an iPad version of the popular productivity suite, in spite of the fact a spokesperson denied the existence of such a product only a few months ago. Furthermore, the insider reports that an Android version may be released as well.

There are some additional speculations as well:

“It is also plausible that Microsoft Office will be coming to the iPhone and iPod touch rather than only the iPad, as we’re told the loading screen in the app clearly said “Office for iOS” and not just iPad.”

The company’s plans to expand on other platforms encompass a number of services as well, namely Xbox Live. And while the software maker is busy tinkering Office, Google rolled out an update to its iPhone app in an effort to maintain its cross-device strategy on rival devices.

The upgrade includes an overhauled interface that’s now clearer and faster than before, including full-screen image search that keeps loading new results when the user scrolls down. Things have also been consolidated a bit, giving users access to all their other Google apps via a new button.