A discussion about the software industry and their coders

John Markoff reports about Google Inc.'s (GOOG) plan to release (a possible Microsoft Excel competitor?) Google Spreadsheet in New York Times:

Google plans to make available on Tuesday morning a test version of a Web-based spreadsheet program that is intended to make it simple to edit and share lists and numeric information online.

...the free program, called Google Spreadsheets, was still in the experimental stage, and that while it can read and create files in the format used by Microsoft's Excel spreadsheet program, it is not compatible with many of that program's more powerful features. 

...the program would make it possible for Internet users to upload two common spreadsheet and data formats, Excel and C.S.V. Once the data is on Google's Web servers, it will be possible for two or more people to simultaneously edit spreadsheet documents and chat about them using Google's instant messaging program.

The new service will be able to handle several hundred formulas used to manipulate data in Excel, but it will not handle more complex functions like Excel macros, said Jonathan Rochelle, the Google Spreadsheets product manager. "When people want to share and collaborate, we think this product fits in well," Mr. Rochelle said.

 

 

According to News.com, Consumers will be able to get Google Spreadsheets from Google Labs and would need a Google Account to access the service.

Om Malik points out that Jonathan Rochelle, the Google Spreadsheets Product Manager, is the founder of XL2Web.

Michael Liedtke an AP Business Writer points out the Security Issue that has hounded Google's several products including Google Desktop:

Although distributing software over the Internet gives more people greater access to programs, the approach requires trusting a custodian like Google to save and protect the information from unauthorized users.

I am yet to play with Google Spreadsheets but am trying to understand Google's plans here. As I pointed out in my posts around Google's Writely acquisition; Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google, had publicly stated that Google was not interested in the Office business of Microsoft. What then is the purpose of doing another Office replication release? Though I have wanted to believe that Google will not go into an out-and-out war with Microsoft, over its office business -- my belief might require a review. I need to close my eyes and meditate over this cosmic question for a longer time. What do you think?