So, it’s here: Microsoft’s Web-based Office programme, aka Office Web Apps, launched this month as part of the brand new Microsoft Office 2010.
Here at the Chichester Design office, we’ve been fed news, views, limited trials and all sorts for what seems like an eternity, so its arrival hasn’t been of the rabbit-out-of-a-magician’s-hat variety, but it’s still really interesting to finally see it in the flesh, so to speak.
And its arrival is important for the company, make no mistake about it. Office Web Apps is a response to Google Docs, a free online word processing and spreadsheets application (including remote collaboration on documents) whose launch was an aggressive move into Microsoft’s territory.
In short, Microsoft Office Web Apps allows you to use and store Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote files online and then access, view, edit and share the content from wherever you are, as long as you have an active internet connection.
So, what’s the next step? Well, for Microsoft, I think it’s growing its relationship with Facebook. The launch of Docs.com earlier this year enables Facebook users to create, edit, and share Microsoft documents with their Facebook friends and the arrival of Microsoft’s Social Connector application as part of Office 2010 surely points towards further integration.
That Microsoft has owned shares in Facebook since the very beginning and is already testing the water (very typical Microsoft strategy) with Docs.com says to me further collaboration isn’t too far away. We’ll have to wait and see.
To find out more about how to use the latest web technology to drive growth at your business, contact Michael at Chichester Design on +44 (0)1243 787542 or info@chichesterdesign.co.uk.
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