Microsoft delivers another update to Office Live Workspace

Microsoft rolled out quietly on May 15 its 1.1 update to its Office Live Workspace service, which is currently in beta test.

The 1.1 bits are available from the Microsoft Downloads site. adds performance updates, making Office Live Workspace run faster with Microsoft Office programs, plus the latest version of the Office Live Add-in for Microsoft Office that allows users to access workspaces directly from Word, Excel and PowerPoint, according to the company. The 1.1 refresh also adds a multiple-document-upload tool, which, as its name suggests, allows users to add multiple documents simultaneousy to their online workspace, as well as to drag and drop files directly from their desktop to their workspace.

The 1.1 update follows the February refresh of Office Live Workspace. Microsoft first launched Office Live Workspace into beta in December 2007.

A refresher, again, on what Office Live Workspace is (and isn't): Office Live Workspace is the closest thing Microsoft has to Google Docs. It is not a Web-based version of Microsoft Office. It is meant, first and foremost, to be a complement to Microsoft Office.

As Microsoft officials have said, Office Live Workspace service can be used from a PC, kiosk or other Web-access point without Office (or another desktop productivity suite) installed; all you technically need is an Internet Explorer or Firefox browser. Office Live Workspace comes with a rudimentary online word processor called Web Notes; a “spreadsheet” that (at least so far) doesn’t do calculations called Web Lists; and the ability to access, view and comment on documents — both your own and those created by others who grant permission.