The cloud space is heating up with both Google and Microsoft coming up with solutions and strategies to beat each other. Recently, Google has released Google Cloud Connect for Microsoft Office, which allows users to save their Office documents in Google Docs.
The solution reportedly can not only save copies of a user's Office documents to the Google Docs cloud, where they can be edited simultaneously by other users, but syncs them for access from a variety of PC and mobile devices. It works with Office 2003, 2007 and 2010; and starting 2011 it will be accessible to anyone with a Google account.
Analysts have pointed out that although this solution allows Microsoft and Google users to collaborate but it’s an extremely strategic step to show Google Apps' benefits over Microsoft Office.
Microsoft has already moved to the clouds with the launch of Office 365 which combines Microsoft Office, SharePoint Online, Exchange Online and Lync Online. The company has already shown its cloud seriousness by the earlier launch of cloud platforms such as Windows Azure and smaller offerings along the lines of Office Web Apps.
The cloud space is definitely important to both companies, and both of them will definitely try to outdo each other. Watch out this space for more inputs.
