What on Earth do you do when the most popular search engine in the world starts to give away the software you charge for? Google — as has been rumored for years — has released a web-based competitor to Excel.

How does Microsoft counter this? Suggestions are to counter with a better web-based solution that interfaces more seamlessly with other windows applications.

The winner in this war is the consumer as Microsoft has had an Office monopoly for many years and it is time for them to have to work really hard to keep their customers. If Microsoft was to develop a truly enhanced Office suite they could even charge more than they do now. The problem is that they have let it languish forever and it is time to get us excited about new technologies that make us more productive. So, Microsoft, how will you respond?