UPDATE: Thanks to "mhusson" for dropping the news on the URL where you can sign up to test out the new Google Spreadsheet.
Word has it that Google is set to release its web based spreadsheet application that is similiar to the recently released Writely Tuesday morning. Writely directly targets users of Microsofts Word, while Spreadsheet will be a direct competitor of Excel.
Google has stated that the application will be called Google Spreadsheets, and is still locked in the beta phases of development. The new application is said to be able to open and edit Microsofts Excel documents, and save them in both Excel, and CSV formats, as well as calculate complex macros.
The purpose for this applicaiton, as with Writely, is to host the application as well as the document on Google's servers, so that multiple individuals can edit the document.
More Google Spreadsheet related news:
NY Times
Search Engine Watch
News.com
Another wake up call for Microsoft? Yes sir.
Google Spreadsheet Coming Very Soon?
Reader Comments
(Page 1)2. Chris:
Don't know whether this can be taken as a promotional comment but this is just to make everyone aware that more such online spreadsheet options exist. Zoho offers one such application, Zoho Sheet. Check it out at http://zohosheet.com.
Thanks,
Arvind
3. Google is directly competing with open source projects like OpenOffice and Sun's free StarOffice.
Google acquired Writely (word processing) and now has a spreadsheet. There was speculation last year that Google would partner with Sun to offer a version of StarOffice. Instead Google has decided to go its own way and compete with OpenOffice and StarOffice.
C/Net says "Google spreadsheets turns up heat on Excel" I don't think so. Microsoft Office is a powerful, industrial strength, client based, information worker productivity platform. Microsoft Office is moving beyond just being a collection of applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) to being a server based application platform for ISVs. Lots of companies run their business on Excel spreadsheets. Now creative start-ups are using Office as a front end User Interface to a whole variety of business applications.
I wrote a blog on this subject today http://dondodge.typepad.com/the_next_big_thing/2006/06/google_competin.html
4. Just been invited to the beta by Google - put a review online:
http://www.nikfletcher.com/index_files/google-spreadsheets-review-1.html
Posted at 3:07PM on Jun 6th 2006 by Nik Fletcher
5. Google spreadsheet is a nice try on collaboration on basic spreadsheets. The app works quite fine for basic (because of Beta still small files) spreadsheet work, not for ingenious and difficult macros and alike. For those who are too impatient to wait for Google's invitation.
You can get it running right away if you are invited by an individual. The same goes for Writely. Google's next baby but then in Word Texteditor format. Same applies here, get an individual invitation and get started right away.
For those who would like to receive an invitation for Google Spreadsheet and/or Writely, visit this page: http://pnut.kicks-ass.org/gsheet/
Thanks
Posted at 12:13AM on Jun 19th 2006 by Piet Nutbey
1. First Come First Served sign-up page:
http://www.google.com/googlespreadsheets/tour1.html
Posted at 12:50AM on Jun 6th 2006 by mark