Office Lite

Microsoft is hosting its Worldwide Partner Conference in New Orleans, this week. I was very tempted, but events in NZ just did not allow enough time.

I had expected a number of 'announcements'. So on Day 1, we get quite a significant one. Microsoft are launching a free 'Lite' version of Microsoft Office online in 2010. I guess this is all part of the Software AND a service mantra that Steve Ballmer has been promoting for some time now. It certainly increases focus on the Cloud and suggests that the gloves might be coming off in the battle with Google. Certainly, a 'lite' version of Office poses a significant challenge to Google Apps.

It's all warming up quite nicely. I am expecting more 'announcements' over the next three days as Microsoft position themselves for the slug fest ahead.

Interesting days indeed.