Microsoft Delivers Office Online

Microsoft introduced Office Web Applications, an online version of its Office 2007 productivity tools. The services will be available to consumers through ad-funded or subscription options, and to business as a hosted subscription and through existing volume licensing agreements. (ReadWriteWeb)

The applications will be lightweight versions of their desktop counterparts, but Microsoft said they will have sufficient functionality to be comparable to online productivity tools from Google, Zoho, and others.

Microsoft said the applications will be offered as a package rather than individually, but did not announce specific pricing, nor when the suite will be released to market. A technical preview will be available later this year.

Microsoft has not yet lost significant market share to SaaS competitors, but clearly wants to stem any tide of defections to the likes of Google, which continues to press forward with enhancements to its own suite of online office productivity applications.

Sources: (ReadWriteWeb, GigaOM, InfoWorld, Rough Type)