Microsoft Launches Office Web

Microsoft this week formally launched a free, online version of its popular Office desktop productivity suite.

Office Web, as it's called, includes online editions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. The Web apps are formally part of Microsoft Office 2010, which rolls out to consumers next week. Users in the U.S, UK, Canada and Ireland can immediately access Office Web applications through Microsoft's Windows Live SkyDrive portal.

Microsoft plans to introduce Office Web in other countries in the coming weeks, the company said.

Making a version of Office available online allows Microsoft to protect its flank from Web-based software from Google and from free, open source-based offerings, such as IBM's Lotus Symphony product.

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