Micosoft has secret plans to topple Google
What a shocker: Microsoft is apparently taking the threat that Google poses to its Office software seriously. But the most interesting tidbit of this story is the assertion that once it is ready (maybe in time for Vista’s service pack 2?) Project Albany can be purchased at Best Buy.
Well, now. Let me see. Do I pay to switch over to a new Microsoft product, or keep using Google Docs for free. I dunno.
Facing pressure from hosted productivity suites like Google Docs and Google Apps, Microsoft is planning a new package of low-end productivity software and hosted services through a secretive project code-named Albany.Project Albany puts together a combination of Office, Office Live Workspaces, Windows Live OneCare and the Windows Live suite of services in one package that eventually is expected to be available in retail outlets such as Best Buy, sources familiar with the company’s plans said Wednesday.
The sources, who asked not to be named, said Microsoft is asking select testers to try out the Project Albany beta but is requiring them to sign a non-disclosure agreement just to participate in the test. The main focus of the initial beta is to test the unified installer for the package, they said.
