Microsoft’s new version of Office software will compete more directly with free programs

Microsoft gets more aggressive with free software

SEATTLE — Microsoft Corp. is rolling out a new edition of its Office programs to businesses Wednesday. And for the first time it’s offering versions of Word and other programs that work in a Web browser, for free.

Office 2010 marks a milestone in Microsoft’s efforts to keep up with an industry shift from programs that run on PCs to free, Web-based ones that can be accessed from any computer. And yet Microsoft must be careful not to undermine its lucrative desktop software business, which accounted for 29 percent of Microsoft’s revenue and 51 percent of its operating income in the most recent quarter.

Consumers can start buying Office 2010 or using the free applications on the Web in June.