<p>Computerworld - Microsoft's addition of real-time collaboration to its free Office Web Apps last week was necessary in the short term to counter Google Docs, analysts agreed.</p><p>But the company's longer-term strategy for the browser-based Word, Excel and PowerPoint apps remains less clear.</p><p>"Real-time collaboration is what got Docs on the map. And Office didn't have it," said Michael Silver of Gartner in an interview Friday.</p><p>Wes Miller, of Directions on Microsoft, agreed. "It's really important that they added [real-time collaboration] for those who were looking right-left, right-left at comparisons between Office and Google Docs," said Miller. "This was a counterpoint to Docs."</p><p><a href="http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9243929/Perspective_What_s_Microsoft_s_Office_Web_Apps_strategy_">Keep reading...</a></p><p>Read also:</p><p><a href="http://www.gottabemobile.com/2013/11/11/office-web-apps-bring-real-time-collaboration-browser/">Office Web Apps Bring Real Time Collaboration to the Browser</a> (Gotta Be Mobile)</p><p>Explore: <a href="http://news.google.com/news/more?ncl=dHNulhB67F2OwBMfxOaVrOI78G5jM&ned=us">6 additional articles.</a></p>