Google buys Web word-processing technology

[geekerati]

Showing that it's more than a little interested in enabling people to handle office tasks over the Internet, Google said Thursday that it has snapped up Writely, a maker of a Web-based word processor.

The acquisition was noted on both Writely's main Web site and on a blog run by Writely co-founder Claudia Carpenter.

"Yes, we've been acquired by Google," Carpenter wrote. In a frequently asked questions page on Writely's site, the word processor company says it doesn't yet know what the implications of the sale are.

"We haven't yet figured out all the details," Writely said on its site. "Coming to Google will eventually give us a leg up on getting things done that we just haven't been able to with our tiny team."

A Google representative confirmed the deal in an e-mail. "We acquired Writely for the innovative technology and talented team," Google said in a statement. "We're thrilled to have them here." The purchase price was not disclosed.

Source
Writely

[Randy]

That is very interesting. I've always liked and used Writely to be able to access my documents from any internet-connected computer. And now that Google has it, it will be interesting to see what they do. However, I do hope that it doesn't turn slow and clunky like many of the other Google Betas have become. I'll keep my eye on this.