Google To Invade Microsoft Office Space
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The internet giant is taking on Microsoft’s core business – by moving it to the Cloud.

Is there anything Google doesn’t do? Apparently not. 

The powerhouse plans to take on Microsoft’s lucrative Office software business with plans to move its file sharing system to the Cloud, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Cloud Connect for Microsoft Office will build on Google’s office management services channelled through its Docs service which offer online word-processing, spreadsheet and collaboration tools online. 

MS Office files will be moved onto their Cloud based servers and given a unique Web address.  However, Steve Ballamer’s Microsoft insist Google’s service will fall short of the mark.

However, the major benefit of the new offering, set for release this November, is that files will be accessible online irrelevant of location as opposed to using Microsoft alone which can only be used if software is installed.

However, the new service, said to be aimed at Microsoft users who are reluctant to make the change over to web based system. 

And once there Google will be hoping they never go back.  

Currently its software services are free although they charge a fee to business users with over 50 employees. 

Google’s “software as a service” is one of its fastest growing businesses and this latest venture is “like a set of training wheels for the cloud,” says Shan Sinha, Google product manager and incidentially a former Microsoft employee. 

Sinha co-founded DocVerse, which it acquired in March last year. 

“Microsoft is fighting an uphill battle, with this huge weight behind them,” he said. 

 

However,  the king of software has fought back, claiming Cloud Connect will be insufficient for user needs. 

“While we appreciate that Google is acknowledging the incredible customer demand for Office, used by over 750 million people world-wide, we believe people will find the Cloud Connect experience falls short of meeting their needs,” said Clint Patterson, director of Microsoft Online Services. 

However, Google insist “we’re able to meet people at the top of the hill”.