Google Spreadsheets Spreads Its Wings
Google's to debut an online spreadsheet feature Tuesday, as it heightens its battle with rival Microsoft for the heart of business and consumer computer desktops. Google Spreadsheets will allow more than one person to work on the same document, along with other staple spreadsheet features. Sign-ups for a beta, or test, version begin Tuesday. Especially telling of Google's intent to take on Microsoft is how Google Spreadsheets uses the same file formats as Microsoft's ubiquitous Excel brand spreadsheet maker. Conceivably, that could mean it would be very easy for someone to switch from Excel to Google Spreadsheets. Another indication Google's got Microsoft in its cross hairs is that it's introducing another free, Internet-based competitor to a major Microsoft product. In the case of Google Spreadsheets, the comparable Microsoft feature is its Excel. A few weeks ago, Google released a free online calendaring feature, a rival to the day planner that's part of Microsoft's Outlook software. Next up for Google, many suspect, is an online word processing feature. That would be tilted at Microsoft's ubiquitous Word brand of computer desktop software. Google signaled its intent to introduce a spreadsheet program in October 2005 after reaching a broad-based agreement with Sun Microsystems. Publicly, executives at Google scoff at the notion that they are in any way really competing with Microsoft. Yet, that's hard to square with the fact that Microsoft's top execs have publicly stated that they are watching Google very carefully, and Microsoft's own reaction to all this Google activity. The software giant has begun mimicking Google's strategy of using the Internet to distribute or serve up office software features. Normally, Microsoft sells its computer programs via shrink-wrapped compact disks available on retail shelves. |
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Comments (13)
Where was the XLS file format reported? Will it export to Excel, too? You didn't mention Google's acquisition of Writely, the web-based word processor that will inevitably make its way into a Google product. Vista watch out. http://dave.notik.com
Posted by David Notik | June 5, 2006 10:05 PM
The same strategy MS used to wield it's dominance amongst competitors. Is this the Windows Media player vs. Real Player replayed? Is it the IE vs. Netscape all over again? Yep. Just MS is getting it's core products (or improvements thereof) given away for free. Direct cut into MS pockets. Ouch! The war is on...
Posted by Dave Williams | June 6, 2006 12:30 AM
It is available for signup at www.spreadsheets.google.com
Posted by Barry | June 6, 2006 12:24 PM
It's OK I guess for what it does but can anyone seriously think that this is or will be a competitor for Excel/Office? If someone is really looking for an alternative office suite/app they'll probably look at StarOffice or OpenOffice.org. I tried the new offering from google today and it doesn't have charts and doesn't import OpenDocument formatted sheets - it seemed to import .xls files fine and the not too complicated formulas I gave it transferred without error. This is a neat toy that's getting a lot of play because of the Google brand but there's not much meat to it...yet. It's been done before many times and there are a few other online spreadsheets already in existence. So, I see this as another Google labs pet project - the company apparently has no focus since the only technology that they've completed and produced an excellent product is search - everything else they've come up with or acquired has languished in beta land. Google is a PR monster but they need to start producing products to back up all the hype.
Posted by Rookie Rabbit | June 6, 2006 3:27 PM
good write up no way to tell how to get the spread sheet is it real??
Posted by Nelson Bailey | June 8, 2006 7:44 AM
Google will announce tomorrow at the Office 2.0 conference a new product called Google Docs, which will merge Writely and Google Spreadsheets into a collaboration and document management solution, according to sources.
Posted by Google Watch | October 10, 2006 4:00 PM
Google will announce tomorrow at the Office 2.0 conference a new product called Google Docs, which will merge Writely and Google Spreadsheets into a collaboration and document management solution, according to sources.
Posted by Google Watch | October 10, 2006 4:04 PM
Google will announce tomorrow at the Office 2.0 conference a new product called Google Docs, which will merge Writely and Google Spreadsheets into a collaboration and document management solution, according to sources.
Posted by Google Watch | October 10, 2006 4:05 PM
Google will announce tomorrow at the Office 2.0 conference a new product called Google Docs, which will merge Writely and Google Spreadsheets into a collaboration and document management solution, according to sources.
Posted by Google Watch | October 10, 2006 4:12 PM
Google will announce tomorrow at the Office 2.0 conference a new product called Google Docs, which will merge Writely and Google Spreadsheets into a collaboration and document management solution, according to sources.
Posted by Google Watch | October 10, 2006 4:15 PM
Google will announce tomorrow at the Office 2.0 conference a new product called Google Docs, which will merge Writely and Google Spreadsheets into a collaboration and document management solution, according to sources.
Posted by Google Watch | October 10, 2006 4:25 PM
Google will announce tomorrow at the Office 2.0 conference a new product called Google Docs, which will merge Writely and Google Spreadsheets into a collaboration and document management solution, according to sources.
Posted by Google Watch | October 11, 2006 10:58 AM
"The underlying draw is to see what users are doing and have computers suggest related or adjacent content. It is a whole new paradigm and important to users," Scmidt said.
Posted by Google Watch | November 8, 2006 10:04 PM