Microsoft launches hosted office apps scheme

NEWS Microsoft has announced it will target the small business market with a range of hosted office applications. The company's president, Steve Ballmer, said the strategy will include the renting of Office 2000 applications via a dedicated Web site, bCentral. The bCentral site was launched this Thursday and is described as a portal for small and medium-sized companies. As well as hosting Office 2000 software, the site will also offer marketing and management facilities. A beta version of the site went live on Thursday and can be found at http://www.bCentral.com .