Microsoft is facing growing competition from Google Doc’s web-based software, and so it is making its own, new Office Web apps suite available to a limited number of trial users. Office Web is due to roll out next year.

MS is calling the trial “The Limited Technical Preview,” and making it accessible through its Windows Live SkyDrive storage portal, says InformationWeek. Apparently MS plans to start slow, expanding trial usage to Windows Live users as it moves closer to the launch date.

Again, here’s another example of the growing movement to virtual computing and online applications. Benefits for companies include reduced demand on servers, and, for end-users, more portability and virtual access to documents.

If you’re an IT manager, perhaps this is a good time to take Office Web for a test drive. It may help you visualize how virtualization can benefit your company.

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