Google to Release Web-Based Spreadsheet

Itsme · 06-05-2006, 08:45 PM

No wonder Microsoft is concerned about Google...

================================================

Google to Release Web-Based Spreadsheet

By JOHN MARKOFF
Published: June 5, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO, June 6 — Google plans to make available on Tuesday morning a test version of a Web-based spreadsheet program that is intended to make it simple to edit and share lists and numeric information online.

The company said that the free program, called Google Spreadsheets, was still in the experimental stage, and that while it can read and create files in the format used by Microsoft's Excel spreadsheet program, it is not compatible with many of that program's more powerful features.

At the same time, the Web search company appears to be moving ahead in its steady march toward creating its own computing universe that is an alternative to the desktop PC software business now dominated by Microsoft.

Google executives said today that the program would make it possible for Internet users to upload two common spreadsheet and data formats, Excel and C.S.V. Once the data is on Google's Web servers, it will be possible for two or more people to simultaneously edit spreadsheet documents and chat about them using Google's instant messaging program.

The new service will be able to handle several hundred formulas used to manipulate data in Excel, but it will not handle more complex functions like Excel macros, said Jonathan Rochelle, the Google Spreadsheets product manager.

"When people want to share and collaborate, we think this product fits in well," Mr. Rochelle said.

The service was developed by Google's research arm, Google Labs. The company stressed the experimental nature of the product and said the service would initially be offered only to a very limited number of users.

The introduction of Google Spreadsheets comes just months after the company bought a small Silicon Valley company called Upstart, the creator of a Web-based word-processing program called Writely.

Despite widespread speculation about whether that service would compete with Microsoft Word, Eric Schmidt, Google's chief executive, said during a recent news conference that the company had no intention of using Writely to enter the word-processing marketplace. Rather, he said, Google was hoping to integrate Web-based word-processing into many services that it was developing.

The Google spreadsheet is intended to be used by small groups of business users, or by people who now use spreadsheets as de facto database programs to keep simple lists, Mr. Rochelle said.

gear02 · 06-05-2006, 09:02 PM

Can anyone tell me google's strategy with all of these sweet apps like Gmail, calendar, desktop, maps, etc.

Jenny · 06-05-2006, 09:11 PM

I don't know, but I'm loving it. lol

bachviet · 06-05-2006, 09:20 PM

Google just wants to stick it to M$.

Memo · 06-05-2006, 09:45 PM

Well, I think Google just takes any application that is commonly used and turns it into a reliable web app that can be accessed from anywhere. Eventually many people think computers in general will be dummy terminals with your OS and data stored elsewhere and it can be accessed from any terminal. We're obviously far from that atm but I think all these things are a step in that direction.

gear02 · 06-05-2006, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Memo

Well, I think Google just takes any application that is commonly used and turns it into a reliable web app that can be accessed from anywhere. Eventually many people think computers in general will be dummy terminals with your OS and data stored elsewhere and it can be accessed from any terminal. We're obviously far from that atm but I think all these things are a step in that direction.

and how are they going to make money?

Cubsfan · 06-05-2006, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gear02

and how are they going to make money?

Their goal:

- They have your email (gmail)
- They have your searches recorded
- They have the things you've searched for on a map (Google Maps)
- They have your spreadsheet information (gss?)
- They have your documents ( gWord)
- and so on

Now, not only can they give you very targeted ads for all of the above applications, but they can also mine that information for other things (perhaps more sinister than we know).

But, for now, it's pretty much about ads.

redcolours · 06-05-2006, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gear02

and how are they going to make money?

adsense.

the question should be: how are they NOT making money?

those "free" web apps that google gives to millions of users are only a small tiny miniscule almost insignificant portion of the hundreds and millions of $$$ they already generate.

gear02 · 06-05-2006, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cubsfan

Their goal:

- They have your email (gmail)
- They have your searches recorded
- They have the things you've searched for on a map (Google Maps)
- They have your spreadsheet information (gss?)
- They have your documents ( gWord)
- and so on

Now, not only can they give you very targeted ads for all of the above applications, but they can also mine that information for other things (perhaps more sinister than we know).

But, for now, it's pretty much about ads.

But isn't that like you built an airline with the latest 747s and Airbus A380 in order for you to charge people for drinks while on the plane?

Cubsfan · 06-05-2006, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gear02

But isn't that like you built an airline with the latest 747s and Airbus A380 in order for you to charge people for drinks while on the plane?

From:
http://biz.yahoo.com/e/060510/goog10-q.html

Total advertising revenues: $2,225,693,000

(That's for the previous quarter)

So they're pulling in about $10 billion a year from ads.

redcolours · 06-05-2006, 10:22 PM

data + information analysis = power = $$$.

by mining information from the millions of people using their services, they can see patterns. These are then fed to advertisers, making it easier for them to target you.

plus all that information/patterns they have is impotant for business analysts. if you can predict the trends, you have a leverage when it comes to wall street, and investors pay HUGE sums of $$$ just for that information.

mcs328 · 06-05-2006, 10:38 PM

I don't use gmail a lot or at all but I pick it over hotmail. I love Google Calendar and it's set as my homepage. The only downside is everything has to be internet accesible.

Jeffbx · 06-06-2006, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gear02

But isn't that like you built an airline with the latest 747s and Airbus A380 in order for you to charge people for drinks while on the plane?

Pretty much, but their plane seats millions of people.

06-05-2006, 08:45 PM	#1
Itsme Vice Admiral Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Southern California Posts: 4,813	Google to Release Web-Based Spreadsheet No wonder Microsoft is concerned about Google... ================================================ Google to Release Web-Based Spreadsheet By JOHN MARKOFF Published: June 5, 2006 SAN FRANCISCO, June 6 — Google plans to make available on Tuesday morning a test version of a Web-based spreadsheet program that is intended to make it simple to edit and share lists and numeric information online. The company said that the free program, called Google Spreadsheets, was still in the experimental stage, and that while it can read and create files in the format used by Microsoft's Excel spreadsheet program, it is not compatible with many of that program's more powerful features. At the same time, the Web search company appears to be moving ahead in its steady march toward creating its own computing universe that is an alternative to the desktop PC software business now dominated by Microsoft. Google executives said today that the program would make it possible for Internet users to upload two common spreadsheet and data formats, Excel and C.S.V. Once the data is on Google's Web servers, it will be possible for two or more people to simultaneously edit spreadsheet documents and chat about them using Google's instant messaging program. The new service will be able to handle several hundred formulas used to manipulate data in Excel, but it will not handle more complex functions like Excel macros, said Jonathan Rochelle, the Google Spreadsheets product manager. "When people want to share and collaborate, we think this product fits in well," Mr. Rochelle said. The service was developed by Google's research arm, Google Labs. The company stressed the experimental nature of the product and said the service would initially be offered only to a very limited number of users. The introduction of Google Spreadsheets comes just months after the company bought a small Silicon Valley company called Upstart, the creator of a Web-based word-processing program called Writely. Despite widespread speculation about whether that service would compete with Microsoft Word, Eric Schmidt, Google's chief executive, said during a recent news conference that the company had no intention of using Writely to enter the word-processing marketplace. Rather, he said, Google was hoping to integrate Web-based word-processing into many services that it was developing. The Google spreadsheet is intended to be used by small groups of business users, or by people who now use spreadsheets as de facto database programs to keep simple lists, Mr. Rochelle said.

06-05-2006, 09:11 PM	#3
Jenny Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Kansas City area Posts: 10,947	I don't know, but I'm loving it. lol __________________ Check out my spoilers for over 20 shows @ SpoilerFix.com Check out my TV blog, where I post weekly & daily TV schedules, TV news, interviews with TV stars & more! All new TV forums as well @ TV Is My Pacifier

06-05-2006, 09:20 PM	#4
bachviet What's Da Pho*? Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: SoCal (714) Posts: 13,296	Google just wants to stick it to M$. __________________ Dell Dimension 9200 \| Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (2.4GHz) \| 4x1GB DDR2 \| 256MB nVidia GeForce 8800GT Dell Studio 17 \| Intel Core i7-720QM (1.6GHz) \| 2x2GB DDR3 1066MHz \| 1GHz ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4650 Intel P4-C 3.0GHz \| ECS 865PE-A \| 3x512MB PC3200 \| 128MB PNY GeForce 6600GT

06-05-2006, 10:38 PM	#12
mcs328 Admiral Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Maryland Posts: 6,578	I don't use gmail a lot or at all but I pick it over hotmail. I love Google Calendar and it's set as my homepage. The only downside is everything has to be internet accesible. __________________

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06-05-2006, 09:02 PM	#2
gear02 Admiral Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 7,223	Can anyone tell me google's strategy with all of these sweet apps like Gmail, calendar, desktop, maps, etc.

06-05-2006, 09:45 PM	#5
Memo Admiral Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: East Village Posts: 5,659	Well, I think Google just takes any application that is commonly used and turns it into a reliable web app that can be accessed from anywhere. Eventually many people think computers in general will be dummy terminals with your OS and data stored elsewhere and it can be accessed from any terminal. We're obviously far from that atm but I think all these things are a step in that direction.

06-05-2006, 10:22 PM	#11
redcolours in living colour Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: above a raging c Posts: 1,739	data + information analysis = power = $$$. by mining information from the millions of people using their services, they can see patterns. These are then fed to advertisers, making it easier for them to target you. plus all that information/patterns they have is impotant for business analysts. if you can predict the trends, you have a leverage when it comes to wall street, and investors pay HUGE sums of $$$ just for that information.

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