kaled - 1:42 pm on Dec 11, 2008 (gmt 0)

The only significant advantage that online office apps have over portable office apps is sharing. Given that virtual private networks can provide this, and given the multitude of disadvantages of online software I cannot see any significant profit for MS or anyone else.

For Google, it makes sense. They can scare Microsoft and their shareholders even if online office software is a waste of time. If MS bite (as they have done) then they are wasting resources on a white elephant - this has to be good for Google. If online office software does become profitable then Google still does ok.

If I was a Google exec, I would also be in favor of developing this software because for Google, it's a no-lose decision (if MS follows suit).

If I was working for MS, I would be more worried about Android. Combined with an ARM processor, ram and flash, this is a whole computer except for display and keyboard. In other words, mobile phones will become portable computers that simply need to be docked to a display and keyboard.

Kaled.