Google's MS Office challenge

Google is about to launch a new office package, Google Apps. It combines existing Google services that provide e-mail, instant messaging, calendars,  web design, word processing, and spreadsheets.

The writing and spreadsheet applications read and edit documents created with Microsoft Word and Excel, key planks in Microsoft's $11 billion-a-year Office suite. The subscription based service for businesses is expected to cost $50 per year for each user. More at NYT