Microsoft was rumoured to be returning fire on Google Chrome OS at an announcement next week, but word is out as to what that might be: Microsoft Office Web. It looks like Google Docs could be getting a cloud computing rival, so read on to find out how we know.
The nuclear bomb Google dropped over Redmond yesterday with Google Chrome OS was news enough, but word started coming through the digital grapevine that the announcement was a bid to sweep the carpet from under Microsoft’s feet, as Steve Ballmer and his boys have a big plan of their own to reveal on Monday: Microsoft Office Web.
Google’s Docs service, offering free word processing, spreadsheets and Powerpoint presentations stored on the cloud, has been nipping at Microsoft Office’s ankles for several years now, but Microsoft Office Web, first rumoured last year, should stamp out the competition once and for all.
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How do we know Microsoft Office Web is coming? As well as Robert Scoble’s cryptic comments, a huge shake-up is going on at the lucrative office.com domain. There’s a holding page right now, and the current owner is moving from July 31, suggesting Microsoft Office Web could be rolled out as soon as August.
What to expect from Microsoft Office Web? Expect a full office suite that syncs with the cloud, allowing you to save files locally and online. Given Microsoft Office’s heritage as a program run off your own hard drive, expect it to work even without net access, and backup when you return online. If that’s the case, Google Chrome OS should be scared: its USP is taking the workload off your shonky netbook when working. If Microsoft can offer the same thing on Windows, why would anyone convert?
There are no more details on Microsoft Office Web right now, but Microsoft’s Worldwide Partner Conference goes down on Monday in New Orleans, so we’ll find out then what’s got Google rushing Chrome OS out the door in a hurry.
Out TBC | £TBC | Microsoft (Via TechCrunch)
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- Microsoft surprise to dent Chrome OS sheen?
- Ten ways Google Chrome OS can kill off Windows
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This post was written by Ben Sillis on July 9, 2009
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