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Google Cloud Connect brings Microsoft Office to the Google cloud

by Scott Bicheno on 23 November 2010, 10:20

Tags: Google (NASDAQ:GOOG)

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Cloud-upmanship

There's only so much extra functionality you can add to a piece of productivity software, which is why the market leader - Microsoft - focused on the cloud with the launch of Office 2010. The other reason would have been the knowledge that Google is determined to challenge its dominance, and the cornerstone of its strategy is the cloud.

In this context, the cloud means geographically unconstrained access to your work and the ability to collaborate online. Google Docs, at its core, is a cloud service, while Office, of course, has a long heritage as a boxed, locally installed product. That's why the Office 2010 move was strategically important.

Now Google has unveiled what is effectively its riposte. Google Cloud Connect for Microsoft Office is designed to take away another reason not to move from Office to Google Docs. "With Cloud Connect, people can continue to use the familiar Office interface, while reaping many of the benefits of web-based collaboration that Google Docs users already enjoy," boasts the blog post.

This latest Google innovation is the direct product of the acquisition of DocVerse earlier this year, which was founded by two former Microsoft execs specialising in SharePoint and SQL Server. It looks like there are some features that differentiate it from the Office 2010 cloudy stuff - such as compatibility with Offcce docs going back to 2003 - there will be things Office 2010 does better.

So what Google is really doing is listening to the objections it's getting from Office customers when it tries to persuade them to defect to Google Docs, and systematically solving them. With each new innovation Google can go back to the market and say "now what's stopping you." It might just work.

 

 



HEXUS Forums :: 4 Comments

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While I can see the appeal for some users, personally, my view is that my data isn't going onto the cloud, period. I don't care if it's MS or Google, it's not going on the “cloud”. Not now, not ever.

Why? One, I don't need it. Two, if we can't trust Google to not “accidentally” harvest loads of personal data via wifi just by sending Streetview cars round the place, I sure don't trust them not to “accidentally” harvest data by data-mining material they store in their “cloud”. And I don't trust MS not to, either. I have all sorts of data on my machines, including business, personal, financial and medical and there is no way in hell it's ever going on some big, faceless corporations servers. I'll delete it and revert to pen and paper first.

As I say, I can see why it might appeal to some users, but not to me. And as for the tit-for-tat war about whose cloud is better, or who can access what cloud, well …. yawn, ho-hum.
Google to not “accidentally” harvest loads of personal data via wifi just by sending Streetview cars round the place

If people hadn't had that data sitting on an open wifi network ( which is the equivilent of daubing it on placards held above your head ) then google wouldn't have harvested anything.

I'd ask if you fully encrypt every mail you send , but knowing you , thats a daft question , of course you do :)

The security of any hosted service is a key piece , its up to you to choose what sensetivity level of data you allow outside that perimeter.
It's not that they could, it's that they did …. and then reports of it seemed a little, how do we put it, economical with the truth.

As for my email, my first line of security is to be very careful indeed what I put in any email. Do I encrypt every mail? No, because it depends on the content, and the recipient. But I have been encrypting anything personal or sensitive for many years.
Ah, you are so in the wrong Job :) There is a security consultancy somewhere missing the best ISO27001 Auditor ever :)