Chinese Startup Takes On Microsoft Office 2

Evermore Software has launched its Microsoft Office alternative in China, Japan, and the United States.

EIOffice 2004, which debuted Tuesday, is based on Sun's Java and runs on both Linux and Windows. It includes a word processor, a spreadsheet, and business graphics applications that operate under a unified interface, the company said. It also imports and exports files in Microsoft's Office .doc, .xls, and .ppt formats, for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, respectively. That's critical because Microsoft Office essentially owns the productivity market.

Unlike Microsoft Office, EIOffice uses a single file format for all documents, and can store multiple documents within one file to, allowing users to bind all files pertaining to a specific project.

The Chinese, English, and Japanese language versions of EIOffice 2004 are available now, and use a semi-subscription pricing model rather than a flat fee. A five-year subscription to free upgrades and technical support costs $398, while a one-year deal runs $149. The latter price is identical to Microsoft Office Students and Teacher edition, the most popular version of the suite at retail.

Evermore Software is a joint venture with China's Wuxi New District Economic Development Corp., a unit of the municipal government of Wuxi in Jiangsu province.