Google has announced a free software plugin for Microsoft Office that will tie your Google Docs account to Microsoft Office. This gives you access to the power of the cloud while letting you stick with the software you’re used to. The plugin is called Cloud Connect and goes into live preview (sign-up) for Apps for Business customers today. Everyone else should get it soon.
Editing a document in Word? It’ll automatically sync to your Google Docs account each time you hit ‘Save’. Want to share a preview of your document without worrying about what file format your coworkers can open? Just send them a link to the Google Docs file. The plugin supports Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, and it’s a big deal for Google’s strategy with Docs.
You may recall that the latest versions of Microsoft Office do embrace the cloud, but that’s only for those on the cutting edge of Office products. For everyone else, Google’s Cloud Connect provides a practical solution as it supports Office 2003, 2007, and 2010. It’s also simpler as there is no SharePoint configuration required. Google also supports Excel, which Microsoft does not yet.
There are a few oddities. For instance, multiple people can edit the same document, but you can’t see the changes in real-time in Office, so there is a possibility for conflict. In any case, it seems like Google will always find a way to get in where they fit in.
What do you think about Google Cloud Connect?
via TechCrunch