OctopusIt looks like Google is taking one step closer to killing off the locally-installed program. In this case, it looks like they're looking for an online Word Processor. They've already implemented IM collaboration in their mail product, Gmail.

This brings up a new point. Microsoft is quickly falling behind Google. Google appears to be following IBM's lead and working to bring all its tools together to give multi-channel collaboration. IBM has known this for years with its Lotus lineup.

With this move, Google may be cutting off Microsoft's ability to generate revenue by making its users purchase multiple products to do their work, then purchasing multiple servers to make them all work nicely together. Google's move also is highlighted by it's offerings to host domain-based gmail accounts.

Could Google be positioning itself to have a web-based collaborative tool encompassing the features of Microsoft's Office and Lotus' Email/IM/team collaboration products? I'm not as worried about IBM, since the Lotus platform offer much, much more than just email. A product like Exchange/MSN Messenger/Office, however… It seems as if people grew tired of paying for those standalone products a long time ago…

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