GOOGLE continues to tread on the toes of its arch-rival Microsoft.

Not content with buying a browser-based word processor and launching a web-based calendar, the search giant has now launched an online spreadsheet.

The free program allows up to 10 users to work on the same spreadsheet using nothing more than a web browser. The spreadsheet is then saved to one of Google's servers. In contrast, Excel is stored on a single PC and users must own Microsoft Office software.

Google Spreadsheets is unlikely to appeal to firms that need to store confidential data or require access to files when there is no net connection available. But its release on 6 June has heightened speculation that Google is planning a web-based alternative to Microsoft Office (New Scientist, 20 May, p 30).