Microsoft Office 2010, the successor of Office 2007, is planned to be released in June 2010. But, the market scenario will be different from the one when Office 2007 faced in late 2006.
In 2006, there was limited availability of Google Apps, Zoho tools and IBM’s free productivity software, Symphony. Also, the OpenOffice.org from Sun Microsystems had various compatibility issues at that time. But, now things have been changed.
Research firm Forrester has reported that about eighty percent of enterprise customers are still using some version of Microsoft Office for worker productivity and collaboration, however only 8 percent using various alternatives, which include Sun StarOffice, Google Premier Apps, Lotus Symphony and Zoho.
Google Apps
In the last two years, Google poses a major threat to Microsoft’s Office market share. Google is offering its advanced functionality Office @ $50 per user, per year especially among small businesses.
Google Apps is presently used by thousands of business users, but, the company has also been serving major enterprises, like Motorola, Genentech and Sabic formerly called GE Plastics. Hence, Microsoft is trying to win back the customers that are presently using Google Apps and also retain its Office desktop users, which are considering for Web-based application.
Microsoft Office 2010
Microsoft is aware of the growing threat from the search giant, and will counter it in Office 2010. The new productivity suite will include Web-based versions of its most commonly used applications, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote for the first time. It will be available in 64-bit version, however only for Windows Vista and Windows 7 operating system. Office 2010 is not supported on Windows XP Professional x64 Edition.
Recently, Mr. Stephen Elop, the president of the Microsoft Business Division had announced that the Office productivity tools are no stranger to competition, but the new web based competitors are new to the application suite. Analysts added that the company should first compete with piracy as millions of people are using pirated copy of Office versions.
What’s new in Microsoft office 2010?
According to the company, Microsoft office 2010 gives you rich and powerful new ways to deliver your best work whether you are at work or home on a computer, Web browser or Smartphone. By offering more ways to access your files from virtually anywhere, office 2010 puts you in control all the time. The users can now collaborate and share applications over the Web, which is the reason for the Google Apps’ popularity. Hence, in the new Office 2010, users can store their data locally or in cloud based environment or in web.
Office 2010 Starter
Recently, the software giant had announced that it will offer a free stripped-down, advertising-supported version of office 2010 on new PCs from 2010. The new version is meant to replace the Microsoft Word and will only be available on new PCs sold by OEMs. It is available in three different versions, called Home & Student, Home & Business or Professional editions and there will be no expiration.
The new edition, called “office Starter 2010,” will contain only Word 2010 and Excel 2010 that means it is devoid of PowerPoint 2010 and OneNote 2010. However, the Home & Business edition will also have Outlook 2010.
Conclusion
Today, majority of people and enterprises are still using Microsoft Office tools but many organizations are using Google Docs for collaboration or dissemination of documents in company. Also, various companies are using Google Apps spreadsheet for marking their daily workflow to answer questions or provide scheduling information to patients in hospitals. However, such functionality will also be available in Office 2010, therefore the new Office suite would battle Google in cloud.
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