Hot Stocks: Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT)

The Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) stock price fell slightly on Friday, ending the week at 28.93, but did spend some time creeping back up to the 30.00 marker where it spent most of last month. Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) have made a number of announcements surrounding its cash-cow – Microsoft Office, in the last few days – and next week should be pivotal in the success or failure of the release.

Hot Stocks: Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT)

The latest iteration of Microsoft Office has the 2010 tag, but this is more than just a routine update (with the intention of making corporates pay through the nose to make sure their systems are ‘up to date’). This time Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) seems to be reacting to the growth in online office software, as well as the demand for ‘cloud computing’ services.

Several questions immediately present themselves. Firstly, is the reaction by Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) to add online operability to Office 2010 just lip-service to those who demand a lightweight (and free) alternative to their bloated and proprietary software, or is it a legitimate alternative to Google Docs? Will Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) actually be able to move (or ‘win back’) those who are currently using Docs for their businesses, or will the only people who use it be those who would just as easily stuck with their copies of Office?

We won’t know the outcome until the first (non-sponsored) reviews of Office 2010 come out, alongside its ‘Office Web Apps’ feature. If these are positive, keep an eye on the Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) stock price’s reaction.