Google Introduces Spreadsheet Program

By Niladri Sekhar Nath

TMCnet Contributing Editor

 

Google Inc. is introducing a limited test of its latest application, Google (News - Alert) Spreadsheets - a free, secure service that helps users create, store and share basic spreadsheets on the Web. Google Spreadsheets will initially be available to a limited number of users on the Google Labs page at labs.google.com.

 

Google Spreadsheets are stored on the Web and are accessible from any computer. There is no software to install and files can be shared, updated and edited by several users at the same time, in real-time.

 

Users are able to chat while editing or viewing the same spreadsheet and can manage who may edit and view their shared spreadsheets by listing the specific people by e-mail address.

 

Google claims that because of Google Spreadsheets, users can upload spreadsheets or information from other desktop applications with a click of a button. Google Spreadsheets supports both .CSV and .XLS formats.

 

While free programs like Google Spreadsheets may pose a threat to Microsoft (News - Alert) Office, experts believe that Microsoft will hit back with its release of Vista.

 

For more information, visit:

 

http://labs.google.com/

http://spreadsheet.google.com