Microsoft may offer free web program

A piece of news from BBC reads that Microsoft is planning to offer web-based service, including basic word processing and spreadsheet programs.

The online version of these programs is attractively free but it will natively lack of many features in the full version of Microsoft Office Suite of applications. Microsoft hopes to fund the web office service by advertising. This is a new model in the business world.

Critics and reviwers take this move as a rebuff by Microsoft against the nascent challenge from a growing pack competitors including Google. Over the years, Microsoft has dominated the desktop computer software market by Windows and Office. However, many catching-up competitors begin to offer similar service and technology on web. That forces it to launch its Office on line project.