MS takes Office online

Microsoft is set to introduce a free online version of its widely used Office software next week, a watershed moment for one of its core businesses as it seeks to counter the rise of Google Docs and other online services, writes Financial Times.

The move comes nearly five years after Ray Ozzie, chief software architect, warned that Microsoft needed to embrace the Internet faster.

With the free, advertising-supported version of Office, together with options that let companies buy some of its capabilities as online services, the latest release of the software "shows we're all-in, we're fully engaged with the cloud," said Stephen Elop, head of Microsoft's business division.

Research In Motion has released BlackBerry App World for the Japanese market, reports ITProPortal.

Attempting to expand its presence in the ever-growing global mobile application market, the release of BlackBerry App World will allow Japanese BlackBerry owners to access a wide range of applications created for the platform.

The App World store will offer free applications that will promote the phone for business users.

To help small businesses respond to the growth of electronic information and corresponding storage requirements, Cisco has unveiled Cisco Smart Storage, a family of desktop network storage solutions with integrated business applications, states CMSWire.

Cisco Small Business NSS 300 Series Smart Storage gives users an integrated, highly secure method to store and share critical business data. While there are many new features here, Cisco says the principal advantage is that it enables SMEs to centralise, protect and share information.

However, this is more than just a storage solution. It comes with built-in applications as well as the possibility of adding new applications in the future.