I wonder if Ozzie's getting scared ... Google Advances Software Challenge With Spreadsheet By KEVIN J. DELANEY June 6, 2006; Page B2
Google Inc. plans today to release a Web-based spreadsheet application allowing users to collaborate online, in a further foray into Microsoft Corp.'s traditional turf. The introduction of Google Spreadsheets follows Google's March purchase of a company offering a Web-based word processor named Writely. The two free Web-based Google services overlap with Microsoft's core Excel spreadsheet and Word word-processing software. Google's offerings highlight a nascent challenge to traditional software applications by a variety of Web-based services. Consumers will access Google Spreadsheets through Web browsers, rather than having to install software on their hard drives, in contrast with Excel. Spreadsheet documents that users create will be saved on Google computers, allowing consumers to give other users access to view and edit the spreadsheets over the Web. Multiple users will be able to simultaneously edit the same spreadsheet and type messages to each other in a separate window. Google Spreadsheets requires a Web connection, though users could export a file from Spreadsheets and work on it while offline using a software application such as Excel. Users of Spreadsheets will be able to import and export content formatted as Microsoft Excel documents or files in the comma-separated-values, or CSV, format. Google, of Mountain View, Calif., said the offering is a simple, early version that lacks some sophisticated features such as the ability to create charts or drag and drop data within a spreadsheet. The company will release the service to an unspecified number of users who add their names to a waiting list. Each user will be able to store up to 50 spreadsheets initially. Google played down any rivalry with Microsoft Excel. "I see them as complementary," said Jonathan Rochelle, product manager for Google Spreadsheets. "I know a lot of users will use both." Microsoft General Manager Alan Yates said the Google offering is one of a field of similar products competitive with the Redmond, Wash., company's Office and Works suites of productivity applications. "There's nothing new here really," Mr. Yates said. --Robert A. Guth contributed to this article Write to Kevin J. Delaney at [EMAIL PROTECTED] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:5:208163 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:5 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.5 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
