The Biz of Coding

Microsoft trying Open Source to block Google in Office software?

by Ujwal Tickoo on July 12th, 2006

This post continues from my previous post: Microsoft swallows Open Source Pill — Word Converter for ODF format.

I think it is not just the pressure of Govt agencies (as I mentioned in my previous post) but Microsoft (MSFT) hedging its bets against Google (GOOG). Google’s recent moves into the Office software category (by buying Writely and releasing Spreadsheets)  dominated by Microsoft has perhaps prompted this move. Google paid several millions to DELL to make its (Google’s) software default on DELL PC’s. A future step could possibly be cutting similar deals for Writely and Spreadsheets as the feature set evolved for these two web based software offerrings from Google. This is the exact strategy that Microsoft used to gain its present dominance in the PC World.

According to a report on July 9 by Anand parthasarathy in the print version of The Hindu, a leading english daily of India — the Word converter to ODF was built by "Pune-based engineers" of Indian software company — Aztecsoft. Aztecsoft according to the report was involved in developing the "testing strategy and plans to complete the interoperability initiative announced by Microsoft."

Aztecsoft is a SEI - CMMi Level 5 company and was ranked 11th in 2005 in the Top 25 great places to work in India in a survey by Grow Talent company.

If Microsoft is serious about the strategy to partially/selectively embrace Open Source to block Google’s foray into Office related software — it will also have to revisit its anti-Linux advertising. The Open Source community has ideological issues with Microsoft; that cannot be placated merely by making document converters. Time will tell how this bet works for Redmond.

POSTED IN: Google, Microsoft Office, Open Source, Spreadsheets, Strategy, Writely