Microsoft is to open a new front in its battle with Google on Monday as it takes the first cautious step towards extending its widely used Office software to the Internet, writes Financial Times.

The move is a response to a rival set of online applications developed by Google to handle things such as word processing and spreadsheets. Though they do not yet represent a complete alternative for Office customers, Google’s applications could pose a long-term threat to one of Microsoft’s more profitable businesses, according to analysts.

Microsoft said it would start to accept applications on Monday from anyone who wanted to try out a “beta”, or test, version of its new Web-based features for Office. The test will not begin until later this year but Monday’s news marks the first confirmation that Microsoft is ready to respond to Google.

Rather than representing a full online alternative to its desktop software, Microsoft’s service will only bring limited additional capabilities.