Updated
Google v. Msft |
Google will launch a free Web-based spreadsheet application today, the latest in a series of challenges to Microsoft's dominance of essential office software. Here's the Merc story by colleague Elise Ackerman.
This follows Google's acquisition of Writely, an online word processor. Lately, we've talked with entrepreneurs who say they have considered moving over to use Google's ecosystem of products, away from Microsoft Office. This is one more product that could push them over the edge. You've already got Gmail, and a host of other "essential software" in Google Pack. It is frustrating, though, when Gmail's server goes down; the Web-based experience can still be embittering. But then you look at how Microsoft's Excel and Word programs each cost $229 for a new user, and $109 for an upgrade.
Google Spreadsheets requires no downloads and allows people to share or work on the same document online. It won't offer all of the bells and whistles that Microsoft's Excel program offers. Don't get your hopes up just yet. We don't have a link to the spreadsheet, because Google is limiting use to a small number of users who request to participate in a testing (beta) period. As of 7am, there is still nothing up at Google Labs, where it should be featured. (Update: Jon has a sneak peak here)
People will be able to open Excel documents (.xls) and Comma-Separated files (.csv) within the program. It will also be able to create files in the format used by Excel.
Google Spreadsheets grew out of an acquisition of 2Web Technologies last year, Google said. That New York company's product was called XL2Web.
Under Google's release, it will allow up to 10 users to collaborate, and reflects their changes in real time. It also offers a number of standard features, like frozen column headings and sorting, but does not have charting, autofilter or drag-and-drop capabilities. People can chat about it using Google's instant messaging program.
We've mentioned other competitors before. There's ZohoWriter, of Pleasanton, with its spreadsheet product. There are also OpenOffice, SimDesk and ThinkFree.