New Delhi, Jun 1 (IANS): While expanding their partnership, Microsoft and Xiaomi have announced that the Chinese phone maker will ship Microsoft Office and Skype on its Android smartphones and tablets.

The companies' new collaboration also includes a cross-license and patent transfer license agreement.

"As demonstrated by this agreement with Microsoft, Xiaomi is looking to build sustainable, long-term partnerships with global technology leaders, with the ultimate goal of bringing the best user experience to our Mi fans," Xiang Wang, Senior Vice President at Xiaomi, said in a statement.

Beginning September 2016, Xiaomi Android devices, including Mi 5, Mi Max, Mi 4s, Redmi Note 3 and Redmi 3, will come pre-installed with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Skype applications, the company said.

"People want their favourite apps and experiences to work seamlessly on the device of their choice, and that's exactly what this partnership offers," added Peggy Johnson, Executive Vice President of Microsoft.