Microsoft Works in the Clouds
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I'm not in the business of confirming other blogger's speculation, but every once and awhile it has to happen. |
During his keynote speech yesterday at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference, CEO Steve Ballmer chatted up new Office Live services. Microsoft is going to stratify Office Live, starting with a "small business" version, followed by another for "personal services," he said. My assumption is that "personal" means they are creating a consumer version.
Over at ZDNet this afternoon, Mary Jo Foley asked if Office Live Personal Services would be "Microsoft Works revisited"—as in a hosted version? She asked the right question. The answer is almost certainly yes.
Over the last couple of months, I've tracked rumors that Microsoft was working on a hosted version of Works, partly in response to Google Docs & Spreadsheets. My sources have said that Microsoft has already started briefing partners about hosted Works.
Certainly, not much development is evident in the packaged product, which Microsoft last updated in October 2005.
Office Live would be one very likely destination for hosted Works, but none of my sources have been able to confirm that for me; only that a hosted product is on its way.
Hosted Works would be as much about counter marketing as providing consumers a productivity suite service. Microsoft could reset the competitive agenda, with their PR spinning that Google's hosted product is no more functional than Works.
I don't doubt that the Google-Microsoft productivity suite comparisons drive Microsoft executives bonkers. They probably would like nothing more than to put some distance between Google Docs & Spreadsheets and Office 2007. It doesn't matter that the products aren't comparable. The blogs and news stories about the Google-Microsoft productivity suite competition is FUD (fear, uncertainty and doubt) talk, from a marketing perspective.
Hosted Works is low-risk for Microsoft. The people using the hosted service probably wouldn't pay for Office anyway. All the better for Microsoft since connections to Office, Windows and other Live services would enhance hosted Works' potential appeal.
I've got to ask: Anyone out there using Google Docs & Spreadsheets or another hosted productivity suite, on a full-time or fairly full-time basis?
Related Posts:
- Which Comes First, Software or Services?, Microsoft Watch, July 10, 2007
- Office Live Gets More Lively, Microsoft Watch, March 5, 2007
- Wanted: Dead or Live, Microsoft Watch, March 2, 2007
- Microsoft Office EnLivens, Microsoft Watch, January 16, 2007
- Office Live: Better Off Dead?, Microsoft Watch, January 12, 2007
- A Lesson in Office Student and Teacher Edition, Microsoft Watch, January 2, 2007
- Why I Killed Office Live, Microsoft Watch, December 29, 2006
Comments (6)
I really don't see the need to use web based office suites, they got to be a lot slower than using desktop software installed on your hard drive. Not only that but for those who don't want to pay the big bucks, there are Windows free versions of OpenOffice and Abiword, to name a few. Both of those also have Linux versions as well.
The only real use of a web based (if free, was I doubt) MS office or works, would be if it would be able to use (better convert) its new Office format that they want to make a "standard" out of. That might be useful.
On another note, a call for the Xbox360 to be recalled and replaced with new ones, redesigned.
http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/levelup/archive/2007/07/10/why-microsoft-must-be-more-forthcoming-about-xbox-360-flaws-or-initiate-a-recall.aspx
This Xbox360 thing, could get a lot worse for MS, as this article points out that the problem is a design flaw, which still may not be fixed, and MS is still dumping a defective product in the marketplace. The 3 years warrenty only on the ring of death (overheating) is still not a fix for the problem. In the end, perhaps MS will be dragged into doing something like a recall. And this is not even touching on the scatched disks problem, where MS will not reimburse users for non-ms scatched game disks.
It will be worth watching what the EU will do as far as the Xbox360.
Posted by chips b malroy | July 11, 2007 11:04 PM
OK, so Works is going live, an online freebee to counter Google's beta freebee. And this makes sense as a strategy for the world's largest software company? Most Office users in Asia paid the royal sum of $1 (or less) for their disks with XP and Office.
Just more B.S. from a management team that has a knack for rolling snake eyes. Seven billion a year spent on "R&D" -- LOL!
Posted by Ed T | July 11, 2007 11:07 PM
Microsoft needs to update its marketing. Bill and Steve were talking about the cloud back in 2000. This term is getting really old.
Posted by just a drone | July 12, 2007 11:33 AM
Here's a sneak peek at Microsoft's new corporate marketing campaign:
http://tinyurl.com/23tcrh
I think it ties in well with Bill's "The Road Ahead" analogies. Ballmer and the boys need to lose the hats though, they're so 20th Century.
Posted by hiyah | July 12, 2007 12:58 PM
MSFT enables Excel -August 2007
Joe,
Here's where you'll start seeing the VCSY connection, unless you close your eyes!
http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/02/06/XMLC/
Posted by I-Man | July 12, 2007 7:47 PM
I'm using Google Docs and Spreadsheets all the time for various reasons.
1. Coordinating home care for an ailing family member with two siblings where all four of us live in different states. Whenever one of us visits, we can update the document with names, phone numbers, and notes that all the others can access. Easier than emailing documents and coordinating versions.
2. Preparing project documents to share among members of my computer user group. We can all add or edit information.
3. Personal projects like book reviews or meeting preparation notes that I can work on at home, at work, or at a wifi hotspot whenever I think of something or do some work on a lunch break or such.
I don't know if I would run a business with these apps. But there would certainly be business uses.
Posted by JADavey | July 15, 2007 11:25 PM