Microsoft has finally woken up to the potential of free services on the internet with the announcement that it will release the online version of the office suite, Office 2010, for free.
Microsoft office 2010 (codenamed Office 14) includes extended file compatibility, user interface updates and a refined user experience. A private, invite-only version of the starter edition was released to select people in November 2009. It includes Microsoft Word 2010 and Microsoft Excel 2010, and displays advertisements to offset the free price.
The final product is scheduled for release in June 2010. Office 2010 will be available for Windows XP SP3, Windows Vista and Windows 7 and will work with most of the popular web browsers except Opera.
Owing to multiple players in the market like Google, Apple, Adobe offering free/reasonable office software in the market, Microsoft seems to have found it imperative to tread a similar path.
Microsoft announced that any individual with a Live account can access the new Office 2010 which includes Word, PowerPoint, Excel and OneNote for free. With this first-off ‘free’ release, Microsoft aims to compete with other big players flourishing on this platform.
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