Oracle Cloud Office -- like Google Docs and Microsoft's Docs.com
and Office 365 -- is a Web-based productivity suite, featuring word
processing, spreadsheet, presentation, database, and drawing
software. The software is based on technology Oracle received as
part of its acquisition of Sun in January.
Initially cool to cloud computing, earlier this year Oracle CEO
Larry Ellison warmed to the idea. Pundits, however, are unsure
whether Oracle's new office suites are meant as an annoyance to
longtime rival Microsoft or whether Oracle views them as a viable
business. The cloud-based office software market, after all, is
expected to reach USD 17 billion by 2016 -- up dramatically from
the USD 3.3 billion it generated in 2009, according to a July
report by WinterGreen Research.
The suite is based on Open Document Format (ODF) and open Web
standards, and is compatible with both legacy Microsoft Office
documents and Web 2.0 publishing solutions, according to Oracle.
The software runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, Web browsers, and
smartphones such as the iPhone, the company said. Oracle Cloud
Office Web-scale architecture can be used for on-premises,
on-demand, or software-as-a-service (SaaS) deployments.
Oracle also took the wraps off OpenOffice 3.3, an open-standard
office productivity suite for the enterprise designed to reduce a
company's office-productivity licensing costs by up to five times,
compared to Microsoft, according to Oracle. The software, which
runs natively on Windows, Mac, and Linux, seamlessly integrates
with Oracle solutions and is compatible with PDF and Microsoft
Office, including the 2010 release of Microsoft's suite, Oracle
said.
"Oracle Cloud Office and Oracle Open Office 3.3 deliver
complete, open, and cost-effective office productivity suites that
are designed and optimized for our customers' needs," said Michael
Bemmer, VP of Oracle Office. "Customers now have the flexibility to
support users across a wide variety of devices and platforms,
whether via desktop, private, or public cloud. With Oracle Office,
enterprises can reduce costs while helping to increase productivity
and speed innovation."
Earlier this year, however, the open office community was shaken
up when 33 members, primarily in Europe, left the Oracle-supported
OpenOffice.org and formed The Document Foundation as an alternate
advocacy and development group.
The Cloud Office Professional Edition and OpenOffice Enterprise
Edition cost about USD 90 per user, volume discounts available,
with limited support, and Cloud Office Standard Edition and
OpenOffice Standard Edition list at USD 49.95 per user with no
support.