Microsoft strikes back: introduces docs for facebook

Maybe it is just me, but everyone with whom I want to collaborate on a document is not my facebook friend and most probably never will be.

Probably one of the wisest business decisions I have seen Microsoft make in quite some time.<p>If you daydream a bit and think of the possible future implications with this partnership of sorts with Facebook (who I might add has been now aggressively taking measures to become the portal to the web) this could really be huge for Microsoft in terms of market share, mindshare, etc. if 1. online/cloud docs stay a relevant competitive space 2. somehow becomes a profitable model (direct or indirect) 3. become the exclusive provider of such service for Facebook.<p>Very interesting.

Please note, when I visited docs.com the app was automatically authorized to have access to my Facebook profile. I had to find the app under my Facebook App settings and remove it manually to deauthorize it. So, Facebook 3rd party partners do not need permission from the user to access the information?

This is a great move on Microsoft's part. The general population on HN might not make a switch but there are a LOT of people who have no idea what google docs are but are on Facebook all the time. Think your average farmville player or your grandmother/parents/random cousin in high school.

Don't see any reason to switch from google. "You need a SharePoint server and license in order to collaborate, and either: You need to pay license fees for an on-premise version of Office 2010 or You need to pay an as-yet-unspecified subscription fee." <a href="http://industry.bnet.com/technology/10002712/the-hidden-cost-of-microsofts-free-online-office-suite/" rel="nofollow">http://industry.bnet.com/technology/10002712/the-hidden-cost...</a>

I used to have an obsession about reserving a great name or two whenever a new service came out. I worked on my own shareware application, and I never knew where I would branch out for my next app.<p>I registered apps.facebook.com/docs when Facebook Apps first came out. Facebook took that name (the Canvas URL) away from me within days, however.<p>I still have my three letter twitter account name, as well as usernames like "Call" and "Cards" on one of the biggest and most-advertised poker sites, from when they were in beta. I've found it interesting to see which companies would take back their names after realizing they let a good one go, and which would not.

Broken on OS X Firefox.

Aren't most of the concerns people have with cloud computing related to privacy? I won't ever trust Mr. Zuckerberg with anything slightly private.<p>And I'm not very concerned with privacy in general.

This is very interesting, indeed.<p>I think it may take a bit of time to anticipate the consequences.