Microsoft took the wraps off its plans for Office 2010 at its worldwide partner conference that kicked off today in New Orleans. The Company announced that Web versions of its new Office software will be available to nearly half a billion people when it arrives in the first half of next year.
On top of that, it’ll be inviting “tens of thousands” to test both Office and Microsoft Visio 2010 as part of its technical preview program. The move is a clear shot at trying to run past Google and its Web-based docs, which, in all honesty, shouldn’t be a major feat as those haven’t exactly taken the world by storm. But then again, Google isn’t looking to make major bucks like Microsoft does and is and will.
When the new software debuts Microsoft will be offering just five Office editions, down from the current eight versions. Users will be able to grab them up through Windows Live and via Microsoft Online Services, which will be by subscription as part of a hosted offering. And of course enterprise and business users will have the ability to upgrade.