Microsoft unveils web components of next version of Microsoft Office 6 November, 2008 By Vanessa Ho

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"Office is about helping you work the way you want to," said Taskeshi Numoto, general manager with Microsoft. "With over a half a billion customers using our products, we have learned a tremendous amount in terms of the huge diversity of the way people work."

Office 14 will not only feature the traditional Office on-premise applications but also Office web applications such as Microsoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote. These new offerings will be compatible with familiar web browsers from Internet Explorer, Firefox and Safari. Office web applications require no downloading or things to install as it works in a browser environment. As well, some features in the desktop version of Office won't be available on the web applications and vice versa, noted Numoto.

He added that typical implementation of Office web applications will address different needs and is a complementary service to people that use Office on-premise today. "It enables new scenarios and exposes people to Office."

Ho Yan Leung, technical specialist with Vancouver-based Habanero Consulting Group, added that what is great about the new Office web applications is there is a consistency of experience from one platform to another and users are not getting a stripped down experience and there is familiarity as they are using a product they've been using for many years.

Mike Jensen, senior technical specialist with Habanero, also said that the Office web applications offer their customers more choice for their customers, which can be good and confusing because there are more options out there. "This is where partners like us can guide customers to what their needs are and work through situations and new offerings with web applications."

Later this year, Microsoft will release a private technical preview of Office web applications.

When Office web applications are available for general release, it will be available to individuals through Office Live and to businesses though a Microsoft-hosted subscription and existing volume licensing programs.