Microsoft is to step up the competition with Google this
week with web-based versions of some of its key software
products.
The move comes within a week of Google's announcement it is to
develop a rival operating system.
Google's Chrome OS is designed to target weaknesses in
Microsoft's Windows operating system by being fast, secure,
lightweight and optimised for the web.
Microsoft's counter move into Google's domain of internet
services will be revealed at this week's annual partner conference
in New Orleans, according to the
Financial Times.
Microsoft is widely expected to release a stripped-down version
of its Office suite online, to rival Google Apps
The next version of Microsoft's Office suite of applications is
due early in 2010.
Microsoft is also expected to release details this week about
pricing and launch plans for its
Azure cloud computing platform .
Analysts believe Azure could see Microsoft jump ahead of Google
in selling computing resources over the internet.