Microsoft to one-up with Google by offering a much better product. The full Office 2010 suite will hit the streets in the first half of next year. When Office Web goes live, it will offer stripped-down versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote in the cloud. Users will be able to access the applications directly through Microsoft’s Windows Live portal, and they will launch directly within a browser.
Google’s initiative is forcing Microsoft to change its business model. Now Microsoft is taking aim at Google and reclaiming its turf, Microsoft offering free Web-based applications has some industry watchers wondering how Microsoft will make money with free software via Office Web.
Microsoft has said that the free version of Office 2010 via Office Web won’t give users all of the same features and functions they would receive if they purchased the desktop-based software, which will run from about $70 to $350 depending on the version
Follow me on Twitter 
