Sun sets on Google’s parade

Well, as damp squibs go, that was wet, wet, wet.

Google and Sun were all set to launch a web-based alternative to Microsoft Office? As announcements go, though, it reminds us of the Grand Old Duke of York. He who marched his men to the top of the hill … then marched them down again.

The meat of the announcement seems to be that Sun will give users the opportunity to download the Google toolbar when they download the Sun Java virtual machine.

Life gets tedious, don’ it?

Update: Mary J. Foley has an interesting perspective at Microsoft Watch : “If ‘GoogleOffice’ ever materializes, it won’t be going head-to-head with Microsoft Office.”