Microsoft has updated the technical preview version of its forthcoming Office 2010 package by adding limited access to Web Applications – online versions of Excel, OneNote, PowerPoint and Word.
Microsoft Office Live product manager Tim Kimber said the aim with Office 2010 Web Applications is to give users the ability to carry on working as usual, but also “to get hold of documents in internet cafés on your mobile – or other people's documents."
For businesses, the availability of Office applications through SharePoint would be critical. "IT managers will be able to integrate access to the applications and document policies through Active Directory,” said Kimber.
Office Web Applications do not have the same level of functionality as standard client versions, said Office client product manager Chris Adams, who added that the new technical preview is "by no means feature complete, although it is an important milestone".
The upgraded preview will allow web viewing of all four application document types, but only in Excel and PowerPoint would users be able to create and edit documents, said Adams.
The “high fidelity viewing” feature, which shows how documents appear when created and saved on users’ desktop systems, will be available on Excel, PowerPoint and Word applications, but not yet on the OneNote application.
"Only in Excel will users be able to use the 'co-author' feature," said Adams, who added that the technical preview versions of the Web Applications would also lack the ability to “publish” to Windows Live Services.
Microsoft has said that Office Web Applications will be available for consumers through Windows Live, free of charge, and as an on-premises system for Office volume licensing customers, including more than 90 million Office annuity customers. A third option will be by using Microsoft Online Services where customers will be able to purchase a subscription as part of a hosted offering, said the supplier.
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