Om Malik sniffed it. Writely has now been acquired by Google. This is another step ( admittedly a very small one at that) in the direction of challenging microsoft’s domination of the desktop or it can be seen as Google’s entry into offering desktop solutions through hosted infrastructure. Productivity boosting online word proessor that it is, it allows multilevel collaboration and has in the past seen good reviews. If the price is right - it is indeed a good acquisition. While some may feel that the likes of Writely's are just show cases - fact remains that acquiring this gives Google the edge to move fast, strengthen the product. Dennis Howlett thinks that next it would be the turn of NumSum or wikiCalc as potential targets for filling the stack equivalent of Microsoft excluding presentation suites.
Its another matter, that in the recent google analyst day presentation – I could not find anything close to an intent of acquiring footprint in the desktop office market space. All it said as one of the five strategic priority is for building new products & services for publishers of information. However, something tells me from me within that this acquisition may turn out to be a winner for Google.
Category : Emerging Trends, Acquisitions
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