Google has launched a new plug-in for Microsoft Office called Cloud Connect that enables users to sync and access their documents through Google Docs, which provides real-time collaboration in the browser, with no software to install, manage or upgrade.
Users of Office 2003, 2007 and 2010 can sync their Office documents to the Google cloud for free, without ever leaving Office.
Once synced, documents are backed-up, given a unique URL, and can be accessed from anywhere (including mobile devices) at any time through Google Docs.
Once in the Google cloud, documents can be shared and even simultaneously edited by multiple people, from right within Office, according to Google.
A full revision history is kept as the files are edited, and users can revert to earlier versions in one click.
Users having Google account as well as users through the Google Apps hosted collaboration and communication suite will be able to access the free plug-in.
Content from our partners
The Cloud Connect plug-in is available for Google Apps for Business customers as part of a preview programme.
Group product manager Shan Sinha wrote in Google’s enterprise blog that unfortunately due to the lack of support for open APIs on Microsoft Office for Mac, they are unable to make Google Cloud Connect available on Macs at this time.
"We look forward to when that time comes so we can provide this feature to our Mac customers as well," Sinha said.
