Google has launched its online presentation software, the
last piece in its arsenal against Microsoft Office.
The new software, similar to Microsoft’s PowerPoint program,
builds on Google’s strategy of building a free web-based office suite.
The presentation program, which doesn’t have a name, can
open PowerPoint files up to 10 MB in size. The main benefit of program is the
shared viewing and integration with Google Talk. Multiple users can watch a
slideshow presentation online and chat alongside it.
One blogger called the new program “pretty average,” because
there is no ability to export the files into PowerPoint files, and there are no
bells and whistles like the ability to add transitions, audio files, or other
content from the web.
Meanwhile IBM today introduced a free desktop software program, Lotus Symphony, that also will compete with Microsoft Office.