Google Rolls Out Free Document Software

"Google Docs & Spreadsheets is a milestone not because it is a new product, but because Writely has been rebranded and there is a common user interface for the word processing and spreadsheet tools," said Melissa Webster, a program director at research firm IDC. "Google has essentially released existing products from the lab to beta testing, and given them the Google look and feel," she said.

Google is taking its nascent office-related software to the next level with the introduction of Google Docs & Spreadsheets, an application package that melds two basic productivity tools designed to make it easier to manage and collaborate on documents. The free, downloadable program lets users control access to documents by individual or by group. Colleagues can work together on a new business plan, for example, using the word processing and spreadsheet applications. The new software package is based on the Writely application, recently acquired by Google, and on the company`s own spreadsheet software.

Users can import existing files or create new ones from scratch, edit the documents online, and work with others simultaneously on any changes. Anyone invited to either edit or view a document or spreadsheet can access it after signing in. An on-screen status window displays who changed what, and when.

Public Access

"Google Docs & Spreadsheets is a milestone not because it is a new product, but because Writely has been rebranded and there is a common user interface for the word processing and spreadsheet tools," said Melissa Webster, a program director at research firm IDC. "Google has essentially released existing products from the lab to beta testing, and given them the Google look and feel," she said. "The tools are well-conceived and user-friendly."

Writely and Google Spreadsheets are alternatives to Microsoft Word and Excel, Webster explained, serving as online-connected programs that retain familiar features of traditional desktop software but introduce new ways of taking advantage of the Web.

Because everyone is connected online, real-time collaboration on documents will be a popular option, she said, and Google is providing a powerful and intuitive way to do that. But, Webster noted, users need an Internet connection to take advantage of Google Docs & Spreadsheets. "There is no way to take this with you on the road," she said. "Although with wireless broadband access growing rapidly, there are more opportunities to use this type of Web-based tool."

Google Docs could replace desktop applications for those with modest word-processing needs and the need to collaborate, but it`s not a substitute for programs like Word and Excel that reside on the desktop and aren`t bound by online constraints, Webster said.

Strategies Mature

Kyle McNabb, a senior analyst at Forrester, suggested that Google Spreadsheets isn`t appropriate for businesses because of privacy concerns associated with storing data online. Rather, he said in a recent interview, the software represents Google`s continued focus on consumers to find new ways to generate advertising revenue.

Google Docs & Spreadsheets follows the introduction of Google Apps for Your Domain, a free service that includes Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Talk, and Page Creator.

According to a research report from IDC, applications that are intuitive and offer the same navigation experience as the Web have come to be expected by consumers. "We can expect to see competition between Google and Microsoft heat up as the offerings and strategies from the two companies mature," the IDC report stated.

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