Microsoft, Targetting Google, Announces Office 2010

Earlier this week, Microsoft released a "technical preview" of the next-generation Office Suite, Office 2010. While the software giant specifically pointed out that the suite's feature set will most likely grow before launch, this preview was fairly complete. The CRN Test Center's Samara Lynn recently outlined the new elements included in Office 2010 here.

One feature that has been publicized but not available for evaluating yet is Office 2010's Web applications. In a roundabout way, this brings to mind the recent launch of Bing, Microsoft's revamped search site, which replaced Live Search. Although not its first attempt, Bing was the company's latest effort to challenge open-source advocate Google at what it does best.

Last week, Google Apps finally dropped its seemingly permanent beta status and is now an official contender to Office, offering Web versions of applications designed to give users similar functionality to the traditional office suite. Coincidentally, this week Microsoft announced that online versions of Office 2010 applications will be offered for free.

Presumed to be abridged, less-functional versions of applications within the full suite, Office 2010 Web apps is clearly another shot across Google's bow and proves that Microsoft likes a challenge. It is probably also a sign that Redmond executives are coming to the realization that the Internet is the company's only hope for survival.

Google has been considered the de facto search site for years now and, while many have tried, it has always been able to hold its own in that area. Google apps were built with the company's knowledge of the Web, its users and the nontraditional approach to making money from "the cloud." Although never a contender to the full Office suite, it was (and is) a good, free alternative with enough functionality for the typical user.

On the other hand, Microsoft clearly has the upper hand of experience when it comes to business productivity programs. With decades of Office versions behind it, the company has built a virtual empire on the suite's applications. What is unknown yet is how trimmed-down those applications will be when they make their Web-based appearance.

But this contest doesn't have the apples-to-apples playing field of Bing vs. Google. Branching out, Microsoft is taking what it knows well -- productivity applications, and dabbling in Google's area of expertise -- the online community. When Office 2010 Web apps finally make an appearance, will they have anything extra to offer Google app users above and beyond the Office 2010 name? Obviously the limit on features will level the playing field, so implementation and user interface will ultimately play a part in deciding the champion of this round in the competition.