Microsoft to Introduce Web Versions of Office Apps

October 31, 2008 · Filed Under News · Comment

The forthcoming version of Windows Office would contain simplified forms of its apps that would be available through Web browsers, announced Microsoft at the Professional Developers Conference on Tuesday.

The software giant said that while it will be putting its Office apps like Word, Power Point and Excel online, it will not completely do away with the traditional versions. Online apps have proved to be very popular with users because of the many advantages they offer – mainly the ease with which documents created in an online app can be opened up for sharing and collaboration. It is this convenience that Google has been leveraging in its Google Docs suit.

Another major advantage of putting up apps online is that the user base grows virally. The user merely has to share a document and the app comes along with it for free. On the other hand, with paid and installed software the user base cannot be expanded so rapidly.

However Microsoft has not had a good track record for developing apps which move seamlessly between online and offline use. For instance its Outlook Web Access is a weaker version of the desktop app and the company has itself claimed that the forthcoming online apps will not come equipped with all the features of the desktop apps.

Tags: Microsoft, Office Apps