Microsoft plots big news to take on Google

Fri Jul 10 2009, 16:44 PM UTC+01:00

Microsoft is rumoured to be planning a major announcement this week which is expected to add to the excitement caused by Google’s revelation that it plans to enter the operating system market with Chrome OS.

Commentators say Microsoft may be planning to unveil two new cloud-based services: a new advanced browser called Gazelle and a web-based office tool. The software giant is also expected to announce that its Windows 7 operating system is ready for release this autumn.

Researcher Helen Wang is leading development work on Gazelle and will present a paper on the project at the Usenix security conference next month. The new browser is expected to more closely resemble an operating system. It incorporates additional coding, making it more secure and better able to handle complex processes such as browser-based computer games. Microsoft is yet to commit to a commercial future for Gazelle, but it may be planning to reveal its plans for the project this week.

Microsoft is also rumoured to be preparing a cloud-based office package that will run in Gazelle. By entering the cloud computing market, Microsoft is treading on territory that Google is trying to mark out as its own. Microsoft’s cloud-based office package may come in a free ad-funded version, in a further challenge to Google’s product range.

Former Microsoft blogger Robert Scoble reported Microsoft’s plans in an update on his FriendFeed account: “Why did Google announce Chrome OS this week? Well of course Microsoft has a big announcement coming on Monday,” he says, adding that he is “embargoed” and cannot reveal the news. Other commentators agree, saying Google only released its plans this week in an attempt to throw off Microsoft.

Microsoft developer and platform VP Walid Abu-Hadba tells VentureBeat that Google is merely entering the operating system market to protect its core search business. “Most of what Google does is defensive,” he says.

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