Google, Sun to challenge Office

[peat moss]

[news=javascript:newsimage('http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/3187/google7yk.gif');window.close();] INTERNET search king Google and US tech giant Sun Microsystems are teaming to offer free spreadsheet and word-processing software online in a head-on challenge to rival Microsoft.

The two companies announced a deal under which they will allow all web users to access Sun's OpenOffice – its equivalent to the dominant Microsoft Office program – from any personal computer.

"Working with Google will make our technologies available more broadly, increase options for users, lower barriers and expand participation worldwide," Sun's chief executive Scott McNealy said.

"Free and open-source technologies, such as OpenOffice.org, OpenSolaris and Java, have never been safer or offered more choices," he said, unveiling the nascent partnership with the planet's most popular search engine.

The accord gives Google, which is moving aggressively beyond its search-engine origins, the right to develop Sun products.

Source: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...E23109,00.html[/news]

[Barbarossa]

This will be the first big test of the Google Plan For World Domination.

Presumably, online spreadsheets that contain sensitive financial information and such-like will be encrypted?

One would hope so...