Google Docs Inches Offline (Finally); Threat to MS Word

Google’s (GOOG) Web-based word processor, Google Docs, can now be used offline to view and edit documents in your browser. That means you no longer need to be connected to the Internet to write a letter or draft an agreement. When you connect again, all your changes are updated. Google Docs now joins Google Reader as a Web app that can work offline. Spreadsheets and Presentations are coming up next.

This offline capability has been a long time coming. Google Docs is finally taking advantage of Google Gears, a browser plugin for creating all sorts of offline apps which launched nearly a year ago. Using Google Gears, Zoho came out with an offline version of its Web-based word processor last August.

Is it me, or is innovation at Google slowing down?

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[GoogleDoubter:]

Google is not at all ready for prime time when it comes to entering into the commercial business applications arena. At this point in time, MSFT really has nothing to worry about with Google taking any significant market share away from MSFT.

Let me give you an example. Google purchased Postini in July 2007 for $625M. In February, Google published new list pricing for Postini services that were some 75% less than current customers paid for their Postini services. Google offered no price protection to customers (many very large corporate customers were pissed off). Google alienated hundreds of Postini resellers by not consulting and not rolling out the new pricing in a manner consistent with customer service and customer protection.

Furthermore, Google failed to understand how this pricing impacts everyone up and down the foodchain and Google said that it doesn't care about the impact of any of their decisions.

To make matters even worse, Google is posting pricing on it's web site that has NO TELEPHONE or EMAIL TECHNICAL SUPPORT and Google doesn't bother to mention this fact to prospective customers.

In other words, Google is now dangerously on the cusp of being given the moniker of NON-RELIABLE BUSINESS PARTNER.

It is painfully obvious that Googlers have no experience in dealing with real customers who use their services as a mission critical part of their business infrastructure.

Google took a Rolex product and is now selling it as a Timex.

I thought Googlers were smart. I was wrong.

2008 Apr 01 05:50 AM

[windinmyface2:]

Did anyone read the artical about Google supplying free music down loads to China? They say because they can't stop thos sneaky little,you know whats from pirating over there, so we will just let them down load all they want for free. Its just another way to get their foot in the door in China, and to try to beat BIDU in China. Here in America, people were being sued for down loading Lime wire music, and are forbidden to do the same on others. I wish people would forgo using Google until they also allow us to do, what they will let others do, just for greed. Also, don't think they will let this happen forever. Once they have a hold on the Chinese market, guess what, they will charge them also.

2008 Apr 01 10:38 AM