Google Vs. Microsoft, Microsoft Office | featured news

Essentially, Rizzo says that Google just throws stuff out there, sees if it sticks and then only continues to develop and support those pieces of software which customers actually want to use. In contrast, Microsoft does lots and lots of planning about what it is going to do and then sticks with it having done so.

Microsoft prepares to launch the latest version of its Office software, with features similar to those offered by Google. The latest version of the software has a free online component - called Office Web Apps.

They look more like Microsoft's, but the real change is in new guts.

Google has acquired DocVerse, a technology start-up that allows people to collaborate on Microsoft Office files online, for about $25 million.

Google is closing an acquisition of San Francisco based DocVerse, a service that lets users collaborate around Microsoft Office documents. The purchase price is supposed to be around $25 million.

Microsoft will offer a free Web-based version of Office as it looks to compete with Internet-based software from Google and increased competition from "open source" products.

Google said it will allow users of its email and calendar to access the online services through Microsoft Office, as it tries to woo business users.