Is Microsoft Office In Trouble?

Microsoft Office is in danger, there is a real competition for the first time in 10 years? That the crux of the matter is that was asked this week, as the battle for the various suites warming, several fronts.

Motivation is Notice that technology consultants Capgemini will begin to recommend Google Inc. s highest level of online office software suite - G oogle Application Premier Edition (g ape) - its corporate clients.

On one level, this is a good news for Googles. Capgemini will bring new customers to five times, with the Office suite, a potentially important source of new, stable income, because gape costs 50 yuan, the annual per user.

But better news is that Google, it may be as bad - or worse - Microsoft. Its a cognitive level is the concept of the legalization of online office productivity suites. The Paris-based Capgemini is one of the worlds largest service providers in the world, if the huge Global Services recommended alternative, it must be ready for prime time, the idea of a cloud.

Key advantage of the online delivery of software than Microsoft version of the packaging is very clearly set out in this section of the press release from Capgemini, to announce the: "Zhang Saas solutions, such as Google version of the Prime Minister to provide a cost-effective, easy-to-deploy alternative installation, and permitting the use of desktop software, they published on the Internet via a Web browser, and does not require companies to install or maintain software on the ground, or into the internal IT resources. Have the ability to share, review and edit data in a collaborative environment, natural needs of network services Capgemini enterprise customers a variety of facilities in the global location and distribution employees. " Microsoft, of course, feel different. The spokesman issued the following statement through e-mail, said: "We believe that competition is good for the large number of users and industry, which means that customers told us that our solutions provide easy-to-use, reliability and security, business needs , which is verified in the strong reception we have already seen, in 2007 the adoption and use, and has achieved more than 90% of enterprise agreements in the fourth quarter of this year renewal of our last financial year, we have a long history, meet the complex needs of enterprise customers, partners, ecosystems, have grown up 43 percent of the office platform, since last year, our current and future investment in the field of software + services will provide more flexibility to customers " .

This is clearly said that this is still an office in the world. But faint cracks have appeared in the office of the foundation, cracks in the extended and deepened.

A-class exhibition is open for more than the paper format. Microsoft continues to struggle in their efforts to access the main Office 2007 file formats, open XML, or ooxml, acceptance as a standard. With the recent defeated by the International Organization for Standardization, Microsoft attempted to take risks, but did not succeed, will be split as a victory, office faces an uphill battle to accept and use of the global government.

More and more governments are looking for file format interchangeable. While Microsoft has attempted to make the ooxml more open, it is an indisputable fact, it is still basically a closed, proprietary format. On the contrary, as the Open Document Format, or ODF format, it is with the Office of the open-source OpenOffice and StarOffice competitor. ODF navigation through the ISO certification process, not a single vote against it. If ooxml ultimately failed to obtain the ISO certification, it would be seen as dealt a crushing blow to the office.

But Microsoft might prefer lost in the hands of the International Organization for Standardization, ooxml truly open. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said recently in July said the company will not go there. "Open source is not a business model, we can accept," he said. "This is not in line with shareholder value." Given this position, on the one hand would like to know if Microsoft will make the necessary changes to ooxml approved by the Government before March 2008, in the future when the International Organization for Standardization tentative vote.

If not, ooxml may be doomed to failure the International Organization for Standardization. If this situation may further affect the perception of the Office of impact will be affected in several ways: First, Microsofts bottom line, as a European and other governments around the world to switch to the open format real productivity suites. Secondly, it will further open the door to competitors such as OpenOffice and gape.

Now, the office is still the main game in the city. But it is no longer the only game in town. In Capgemini - Googles cooperation and open documents is the threat of a potentially seriousԤʾthings. Microsoft will be wise to pay close attention to the shifting environment of fair competition.