According to a report published on BBC News, Microsoft is preparing to launch online versions of Word, Excel and other programs in the Microsoft Office suite plus Exchange and Sharepoint in 2009.
Users will be able to use these programs via a web browser rather than installing them on a PC.
Some versions of the programs are expected to be free to use provided users are happy to view adverts alongside the software.
"We expect fully that the full range of Office utilities, from the most advanced to simpler lightweight versions, will be available with a range of options: ad-funded, subscriptions-based, traditional licensing fees, and so forth," Stephen Elop, head of Microsoft's business division told the Reuters newswire.
The move to web-based versions is also seen as a belated move by Microsoft to bolster its credentials in the move to so-called "cloud computing" in which applications only live online.
So far no date has been given for when the web-based versions will be available - though they are expected to be put online in 2009.
Mr Elop said Microsoft had seen strong interest from many existing customers in the web versions. Using such software would free many from maintaining their own hardware and software to support locally-installed versions.
"What we think is in five years, 50% of the use of Exchange and Sharepoint could be serviced from the cloud," he said.
Users will be able to use these programs via a web browser rather than installing them on a PC.
Some versions of the programs are expected to be free to use provided users are happy to view adverts alongside the software.
"We expect fully that the full range of Office utilities, from the most advanced to simpler lightweight versions, will be available with a range of options: ad-funded, subscriptions-based, traditional licensing fees, and so forth," Stephen Elop, head of Microsoft's business division told the Reuters newswire.
The move to web-based versions is also seen as a belated move by Microsoft to bolster its credentials in the move to so-called "cloud computing" in which applications only live online.
So far no date has been given for when the web-based versions will be available - though they are expected to be put online in 2009.
Mr Elop said Microsoft had seen strong interest from many existing customers in the web versions. Using such software would free many from maintaining their own hardware and software to support locally-installed versions.
"What we think is in five years, 50% of the use of Exchange and Sharepoint could be serviced from the cloud," he said.
0 comments
Post a Comment