Microsoft's online version of Office will include Web Apps.

According to foreign media reports, Microsoft will release an Office 14 that includes online versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote.

It is reported that the Web Applications (hereinafter referred to as Web Apps) in Office 14 will compete with applications such as Google Docs and Zoho, which provide full-featured editing through web browsers. They will use an improved version of the "Ribbon" interface from Office 2007.

Microsoft's Chief Software Architect, Ray Ozzie, said during his second speech at the Professional Developers Conference (PDC 08) on the 28th: "For quite a long time, many of you have wondered if we would bring Office applications online. (Now the answer is yes), it will be an office without walls."

Microsoft has indicated that it is dedicated to researching applications that allow two people to edit the same document simultaneously, regardless of whether they are using the client version or the online version. This includes showing changes made by one person on another person's screen within seconds, allowing others to add photos to OneNote files, etc.

In stark contrast to the limited functionality of Google Docs, Microsoft emphasizes that Web Apps still retain desktop features, such as the advanced charting and formula editing functions in Excel. The biggest question now is how much bandwidth will be required to use these features online.

Microsoft stated that Office Web Apps will support IE, Firefox, and Safari browsers. Office Web Apps will be included in Office Live, with both ad-sponsored and subscription-based models available through Microsoft. These will be delivered via server-hosted services and licensing agreements.

Sina Tech