Office Web Apps

Microsoft Office Web Apps

Screenshot of Microsoft Word Web App running on Mozilla Firefox
Developer(s)	Microsoft
Stable release	Final / June 7, 2010; 17 months ago (2010-06-07)
Platform	Web application
Type	Web application, Spreadsheet, Presentation, Notetaking and Word processor
License	Freeware
Website	office.microsoft.com/web-apps/

Microsoft Office Web Apps is a web-based version of the Microsoft Office productivity suite. It includes the web-based versions of Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Microsoft OneNote. The web applications allow users to access their documents directly from anywhere within a web browser as well as share files and collaborate with other users online. Supported web browsers include Internet Explorer 7 or later, Mozilla Firefox 3.5 or later, Google Chrome and Safari 4.^[1]

Accessibility

Office Web Apps is available to its customers via three channels:^[1]

• Consumers are able to access Office Web Apps through Windows Live SkyDrive, Hotmail, Docs.com and Facebook Messages
• Microsoft Office Volume Licensing customers are able to host Office Web Apps on-premises on a server running Sharepoint Foundation 2010 or Sharepoint Server 2010
• Businesses, corporations and educational institutions are also able to host Office Web Apps using a subscription-based Microsoft Online Services, Live@edu or Office 365

Office Web Apps was released to the consumer public via Windows Live Office on June 7, 2010. The service is intended to replace Office Live Workspace, and users of Office Live Workspace had been progressively migrated to Windows Live Office since this date.^[2]

Microsoft also offers other web applications in its Microsoft Office suite, such as the Outlook Web App (formerly Outlook Web Access), Lync Web App (formerly Office Communicator Web Access), and Project Web App (formerly Project Web Access).^{[citation needed]}

History

Office Web Apps was first revealed on 28 October 2008 at the Professional Developers Conference (PDC) 2008 in Los Angeles. ^[3] Microsoft originally announced that Office Web Apps will be available through its Office Live Workspace offering. During PDC 2008, Office Web Apps was announced to be powered by AJAX as well as Silverlight, however the latter is optional and its availability will only "enhance the user experience, resulting in sharper images and improved rendering." ^[4] Microsoft's Business Division President Stephen Elop stated during PDC 2008 that "a technology preview of Office Web Apps would become available later in 2008", ^[5] however, the Technical Preview of Office Web Apps was not released until 2009.

On 13 July 2009, Microsoft announced at its Worldwide Partners Conference 2009 in New Orleans that Microsoft Office 2010 reached its "Technical Preview" development milestone and features of Office Web Apps was demonstrated to the public for the first time.^[6] Additionally, Microsoft also announced that Office Web Apps will be available to users in three ways: via Windows Live for consumers (instead of the previously announced Office Live Workspace), or via Microsoft SharePoint or Microsoft Online Services for business users. However, Office 2010 beta testers were not given access to Office Web Apps at this date, and it was announced that it will be available for testers during August 2009.^[7] However, in August 2009, a Microsoft spokesperson stated that there has been a delay in the release of Office Web Apps Technical Preview and will not be available by the end of August.^[8]

Microsoft officially released the Technical Preview of Office Web Apps on 17 September, 2009.^[9] Office Web Apps was made available to selected testers via its Windows Live SkyDrive service. The final version of Office Web Apps was made available to the public via Windows Live Office on June 7, 2010. ^[10]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Office Web Apps platform comparison overview". Microsoft TechNet. Microsoft Corporation. 12 August 2010. http://technet.microsoft.com/library/ff925944.aspx. Retrieved 22 January 2011. ^{[dead link]}
2. ^ Jason Moore, Principal Lead Program Manager, Windows Live SkyDrive (7 June 2010). "Office is now live on SkyDrive!". Windows Live Team Blog. Microsoft Corporation. http://windowsteamblog.com/windows_live/b/windowslive/archive/2010/06/07/office-is-now-live-on-skydrive.aspx. Retrieved 7 June 2010. 
3. ^ Microsoft PressPass: Microsoft to Extend Office to the Browser 28 October 2008
4. ^ Perez, Sarah (2008-11-10). "Microsoft Office Web Applications - Your Burning Questions Answered". On10.net. http://on10.net/blogs/sarahintampa/Microsoft-Office-Web-Applications-Your-Burning-Questions-Answered/. Retrieved 2010-08-16. 
5. ^ CNet News: Next version of Office heads to the browser 28 October 2008
6. ^ Microsoft PressPass: Microsoft Office 2010 Hits Major Milestone and Enters Technical Preview 13 July 2009
7. ^ Mary Jo Foley: Microsoft Office Web Apps: No test build until August 13 July 2009
8. ^ Mary Jo Foley: No Microsoft Office Web Apps test build in August, after all 28 August 2009
9. ^ Microsoft PressPass: Microsoft Web Apps: Office Goes to the Web 17 September 2009
10. ^ Finley, Klint. "Microsoft Rolls Out Office Web Apps". Readwriteweb.com. http://www.readwriteweb.com/enterprise/2010/06/microsoft-rolls-out-office-web.php?utm_source=SNSanalytics&utm_medium=Twitter&utm_campaign=Tech+News. Retrieved 2010-08-16. 

External links

• Windows Live Office
• Office Web Apps information page