14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is currently hard at work cooking the next iteration of the Office System. Back in October 2008, the Redmond company pointed out that customers would be getting the Office 2010 products come 2010 and that it was extending the suite into the Cloud. At that time, Chris Capossela, senior vice president, Microsoft Business Division, confirmed that users would be able to take advantage of Office web applications designed to complement the Office 2010 desktop product. Now the software giant is reportedly looking for the brand that will bring Office web apps to the public.
A few choices have been thrown around, but the company is yet to confirm anything officially. According to LiveSide via Mary Jo Foley, a Microsoft Site Survey offers those surveyed a few variants that could end up as the name for the Office 2010 web applications. “Which of these names do you think does the best job describing a product that you would be more interested in trying than Google Apps, assuming both products have similar features and functionality?” is a question in the survey. The following variants are given: Microsoft Ensemble; Microsoft Optro; Microsoft ArcLight; Microsoft Offsite; Microsoft Equipt.
While the Redmond company has yet to offer any details on its branding efforts for Office web applications, just the fact that it is exploring the option of a brand is an interesting move. One aspect of making the lightweight versions of Office 2010 components such as Word, PowerPoint, Excel and OneNote, as consumer-friendly as possible is to wrap a brand around them. The moniker Office web applications leaves something to be desired in this regard.
Microsoft is currently gearing up to go live with the first Technical Preview of Office 2010. The company continues to accept participation requests in the Office 2010 Community technology Preview Program even at this point in time.