Bits of Office go onto the Web

SOFTWARE giant, Microsoft is dumping a bit of its flagship Office product onto the web.

Vole's desktop-based Office programs will now let computer users store, share and comment on documents on line. However, the ever-cautious Vole has stopped short of allowing punters to create new files on the wibblesome web.

The feature has been set up on Microsoft Office Live Workspace which goes out for beta testing today. The Vole expects punters to be using the system in anger later in the year.

According to AP , Microsoft gives users users 250 megabytes of storage. Users can upload Word, Excel and PowerPoint files, and use the site to e-mail friends or colleagues and invite them to read and add comments to those documents through a Web browser.

There the fun stops. If a user wants to edit the text, they must open it using VoleOrifice.

Microsoft flexing its muscles in Google's direction by putting office apps online, whilst keeping hold of the market-leading Office tie-in. If income from that dried up the Vole would be in danger of running out of cash cows to slay. What with Vista and all. µ