Sabeer Bhatia Intros Live Documents

[CadCrazy]

True to all the buzz for the last couple of days, Sabeer 'Hotmail' Bhatia has gone and launched "Live Documents", described as a 'hybrid online-offline Office suite of applications.

The launch was announced today by InstaColl, the Bangalore-based software product company co-founded by Sabeer Bhatia.

"Live Documents" is a full-featured suite of online Office productivity applications offering functionality equivalent to Microsoft's desktop applications -- Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

The product has been built using RIA technologies such as Flash and Flex, and allows users to view and edit documents within any common browser on any operating system (OS) -- from anywhere.

The user interface (UI) is Flash-based, and promises a richer, more responsive user experience comparable with native Office software applications.

Another option is the availability of "Live Documents" as a desktop client application (optional), which wraps around Microsoft Office, and embeds collaborative capabilities into hitherto stand-alone software applications.

Meaning, in this case, "Live Documents" transforms static, stand-alone Microsoft Office applications into smart clients that are Internet- connected and facilitate simultaneous multiple editing of singular documents plus management, sans users having to give up familiar user interfaces.

As desktop client, "Live Documents" also offers offline access to documents, the lack of which is considered a major weakness with current online Office applications.

Simply put, "Live Documents" is an application which gives users the flexibility to work on their documents -- either on their desktops or on their browsers. And, whether they are online or offline, any changes made either ways, would get automatically synchronized on both ends, ensuring that desktop- and Web- versions are always in-sync.

Also with "Live Documents", data can be exported to blogs and Web sites. And the application is compatible with all available Office suites.

"Live Documents is the new productivity suite for the Internet generation, providing flexibility lacking in traditional software while retaining that which is important from the past and extending it with unique collaborative capabilities. I believe that 'Live Documents' does for documents what Hotmail did for email," said Sabeer Bhatia, chairman of InstaColl.

Quizzed about the similarity to 'Google Docs', Bhatia quipped that 'Google Docs' is way too primitive, and that the compatibility offered by "Live Documents" is almost that of Microsoft Office 2007 unlike in 'Google Docs'. 'Google Docs' is like a watered-down version of an Office suite, whereas "Live Documents" is an enhanced version, he said.

Meanwhile, starting today, a technology preview "Live Documents" is available on an invitation basis at http://www.live-documents.com. General availability is expected to follow shortly. "Live Documents" is free for personal use, with commercial versions made available for enterprises in hosted form and on-premise server. An offline version of "Live Documents" will be made available in a couple of months.

Those who wish to sign-up for a free "Live Documents" account, click on: http://www.live-documents.com.

Source

[talkingcomet]

aha.. the brand name live again!!
we may be seeing some suing action from ms for using their brand name!! lol
and will it make a revolution?? with google docs out there?

[NucleusKore]

Yes, I too expect some sort of a lawsuit from Microsoft, Live is their baby

[Pathik]

I think mr.bhatia is hoping that MS ll buy his product again.. MS also needs this against google Docs

[shashank_re]

This product is good but not as Hotmail!

[ravi_9793]

bhatai on new way.........
But with whom he is competiting Google or Microsoft

[amitava82]

Originally Posted by pathiks

I think mr.bhatia is hoping that MS ll buy his product again.. MS also needs this against google Docs

I agree. Me too sensing that and its a very clever move if you ask me.
I'm also sensing a lawsuit...

[gxsaurav]

Hmm...just signed up, the potential is better compaired to Google Docs which is more like Notepad

Let's see how good the real product it. Flash & Flex means cross platform, means this will work in any cyber cafe...yipeee

[naveen_reloaded]

What is live to do with?
Comeon its a english word.
Whoever can use it.
Wait if i use LIVE here..will i get sued?
If all major companies start copyrighting all the words then what will happen.
Anyway good move.nice to see.
So does office07 has become obsolete?

[anand1]

Good work making Office suite live is good, giving an easy use for the professionals to edit their documents. Yes he might be thinking of his rebirth with this software. Wait and watch.... what will be the outcome.

[ax3]

guess nice move by sb .......