BillyS - 1:52 am on Mar 10, 2006 (gmt 0)

Many companies have made the mistake of underestimating Microsoft's capabilities. It's the company people love to hate.

They've got a huge advantage when it comes to competing with Google - they are the underdog.

Acquiring Writely is a good example of how Microsoft and Google are taking a different approach to the market. Businesses would never think of having their employees use tools where advertisements are commonly shown. For the average surfer away from the office, something like Writely with ads is perfect.