Microsoft beats Google at social networking with Docs for Facebook

Microsoft has long lagged behind Google in almost everything having to do with the Internet. But the the beta of Docs for Facebook, which lets people share Office documents over the Web using Facebook and the upcoming Web-based version of Office, shows that Microsoft may understand social networking better than Google. And it won't be the first time.

Docs for Facebook is essentially the Web-based version of Office, called Office 2010 Web edition, connected to Facebook. When the service launches, you'll be able to create Office documents on the Web and share them with your Facebook friends, and share the documents they want you to read.

There will be some very clear limitations when it launches. The Web-based version of Office, based on the early betas, is a stripped-down version of Office. It doesn't automatically synchronize files between your local PC and the Web.

It's also far less powerful than Google Docs, especially when compared to the new version that was just released. On the face of it, this sounds as if Google Docs beats Microsoft Docs for social networking. That's not the case, though. Google Docs does a better job at business collaboration, but isn't designed for sharing via Facebook or other social networks. Microsoft Docs has been designed solely for social networking. They're aimed at different groups.

Talk about turnaround: Google Docs is aimed at business users; Docs for Facebook at consumers.

This isn't the first time that Microsoft has beat Google at social networking. The Outlook Social Connector does a very solid job of integrating Outlook with social networks, as I detail in my review for Computerworld. And it is far superior to Google Buzz, Google's attempt to integrate social networking with Gmail. As I write in a blog post, Microsoft Outlook Social Connector beats Google Buzz, hands down.