Google vs. Microsoft (or the other way around)

It seems that there has been a lot of press for both of the companies lately. Both seem to be developing strategies and releasing services to attack what the other does best; Microsoft with MSN and their ongoing battle to defeat google in the search game and Google with their latest release of software (Calendar, Writely, Spreadsheets) to compete with Office. Its gotten so bad lately that you can tune into any media format without hearing something about either one of these Mega-Corporations.

I wrote yesterday about the amazing wiz-bang new addition to Google's arsenal, Google Spreadsheets. It didn't take long after Google announced the release of this product to directly compete with Excel, did the executives at Microsoft start complaining. Google's service sports features such as automatic saving, keyboard shortcuts, and supports more than 200 formula functions. Perhaps the best feature of all is the ability for multiple users to simultaneously edit spreadsheets and chat.

Spreadsheet product manager, Jonathan Rochelle explains that Google is looking to help Excel users share more effectively.

What is Microsoft's response? "Thanks but no thanks", Microsoft spokesperson Heather Gillissen told reporters. She and the Redmond, Va corporation don't think that Excel users need the help. She added that many other vendors already offer the functionality that Google's service does and there is nothing new or great about it. Heather remarked that "Google's new spreadsheet product is just an imitation of functionality". What ever happened to the saying that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery?

I think Microsoft might do well to play nice until Google has all of its cards on the table. Badmouthing has never helped the success of any company or person, I'd like to see an example where it did. Take for example the Dixie Chicks' commentary on President Bush a year ago. They were publicly scroned by the news and fans for their dissing and hate remarks.

Google is at the forefront of a movement pushing web services to compete and defeat computer based applications and they've got a lot of people on their side, I'm one of them. We'll just have to wait and see how the next round in this title fight will turn out, so stay tuned!