"Microsoft" to launch free web-based "Office"

US corporation "Microsoft" has provided new details of a plan to offer a free, Web-based version of its Office software in the first half of year 2010.

The free online offering -- expected to be ready in the first half of 2010 along with a new version of its conventional software called Office 2010 -- is the latest milestone in an 18-month-old strategy by the world's largest software supplier to offer more of its core products via the Web.

Office software is used on almost all computers in the world and it includes the following programs: Word (for writing), Excel (for working sheets and calculations), PowerPoint (for presentations) and Outlook (for electronic mail).

Microsoft, by offering lightweight versions of those products that can be used through a Web browser, is trying to exploit the popularity of online services without curtailing the profitability of products that are still run on PCs or corporate servers.

According to "Wall Street Journal", Microsoft is also hoping to blunt competition from Google, which offers free online applications called Google Docs and last week disclosed plans for operating system Chrome that could compete with Microsoft's Windows.

Stephen Elop, who runs the business software division in Microsoft, said in an interview that making some of its Office products available free should help the company expand its overall business.

While traditional office productivity tools, like spreadsheets, are experiencing slower revenue growth than some newer products, Microsoft has an opportunity to reach more customers with hosted business services such as email and collaborative applications, he said.

A key advantage of Web-based programs is that they can allow users to tap into their files from any device connected to the Internet, including hardware running non-Microsoft systems such as Linux.

Microsoft Corporation Washington

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