Competition is Good

This is a good start:

Google Inc. will introduce a spreadsheet program Tuesday, continuing the Internet search leader's expansion into territory long dominated by Microsoft Corp.

Although it's still considered a work in progress, Google's online spreadsheet will offer consumers and businesses a free alternative to Microsoft's Excel application - a product typically sold as part of the Office software suite that has been a steady moneymaker for years.

The Google spreadsheet will be focused on making it easy to share the spreadsheet's output among multiple users, and at least now is not aimed as a serious competitor to Excel. Still, a little competition can't hurt, even if it comes from another 800-lb. gorilla.