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Jul. 15, 2009

Google and Microsoft are now almost literally at war and this could assuredly signal a new direction for the future of mobile computing for most users.

Late yesterday, Microsoft said that it will offer a free Internet-based version of its popular suite of Office products, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.

But for the past three to four years, Google has been offering similar services via the Internet in the form of Google Docs.

Microsoft's new free services mark a major break from the boxed software model, indicating the company may see promise in a ASP (application service provider) model for distributing and providing its productivity solutions.

Overall, Internet-based services are the new and more economical way to go, and are gaining attention as low-end netbooks and other mobile computing devices attempt to make good on a promise of ultra-portability and at a very low cost.

Skyrocketing netbook sales over the past year have bolstered the trend, but many analysts now say that a high rate of returns means the mini computers are unable to meet consumer’s expectations.

Google took a real jab at Microsoft last week with the announcement of its intention to develop its very own operating system, Google Chrome OS, which could compete with Microsoft’s controlling share of the netbook OS market.

Additionally, Acer, Asus, HP and Sony all offer netbooks that run on various versions of Microsoft’s Windows OS, and have been doing so for some time already.

So-called 'cloud computing' and a large variety of services offered over the Internet could mean an always-on from anywhere in the world scenario that demands less of the device itself, leading to more sophisticated applications for smartphones and netbooks alike.

We are watching this trend very closely, since it could literally change the way people use their computers and laptops, and could drive some important shifts in the corporate and business world as well.

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    This article was featured on Business 5.0 and on Tech Blog.

Source: Operating Systems Today.