MS and Google Preparing For Online Office Application Battle?

September 25th, 2006: In an attempt to pip Google at the post, Microsoft has hinted that it is planning to move its Works productivity suite online.

The move is somewhat of a pre-emptive strike by the software giant to take on Google in web-based applications. Google currently offers email, IM, calendar and a website creator, by packaging the recently purchased Writely with its spreadsheets software it will be able to offer a basic office productivity package.

Microsoft’s online tools will likely be a scaled down, free version of Works and will reportedly enable the collaboration and sharing of documents without emailing files.

According to Reuters, Microsoft will be offering its office technology "for free with a business model that makes money off advertising.”

Google has yet to announce any specific plans in this web-applications space, however, it has hinted that it has a full office suite on the horizon. Whether the two end up clashing or not, the market for online office applications is heating up.

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