Microsoft launches free office software -

Microsoft said it will launch a free version of its Office application software program later this year. However, free will mean that users must accept living with ads.

Similar to Microsoft Office, Works will still be a traditional software package for desktop PCs. The only difference is that the free version Works supports displaying ads on the software interface during use. The ads will automatically be updated whenever the PC using Works is connected to the Internet.

The version that will be used during the first test of the service will be the Works 9.0 version. The focus of the package will be the word processing and spreadsheet application.

Microsoft expects the Testing process to last until mid-2008. The goal of the testing process is to test the software package to find out when the service is officially launched.

The commercial version of Works without advertising costs about $ 39.99.

Microsoft said it is currently in talks with a number of PC makers to install Works pre-installed on complete PC products.

Analysts said this step by Microsoft is to "confront" with the increase in the number of competitors in the past continuously launched free online application versions of the office. For example, Sun has Zoho and Ajax 13, while Google has Docs & Spreadsheets.

Hoang Dung