Signs are pointing likely if you use other Microsoft products already. According to this tech blog, it looks like with Office 2010, Microsoft is including the Outlook Connector which enables you to use Windows Live Hotmail, contacts, and calendar with Microsoft Outlook.

I have not had problems moving files around between Office and Google Docs. Google lets me save in formats that open in Word and Google opens Office files. Calendars import/export is hard online and in Office. If outlook Connector does that, I'll use it.

Do you want everything shared under 1 account? For privacy purposes, I like to keep seperate accounts for most things so if one account gets compromised, it won't affect my other accounts elsewhere.

RT @georgekhalil The integration of Interwoven WorkSite & Office 2010 no longer functions. Same was experienced when Office07 was 1st released.

I'm sure it will if you're already a Microsoft user via Hotmail, etc. But you can expect a full Office Suite that syncs with the cloud...which cuts down on redundant work files and backsaving, because it allows you to  save files locally and online.

Given Microsoft Office’s past as a software company, if you have a paid subscription of Office 2010, that even if you h ave no internet access, it'll backup all your work when you return online. If that’s the case, Google Chrome OS should be scared: Sure it can take the workload off your itty bitty netbook when you're working. But if Microsoft can offer the same thing on Windows, why would anyone convert?

Gatorbaiter -- I think most people do what you do, using different accounts in different contexts to separate your personal lives and work. Would you want the Office app -- or any cloud service -- to help you manage those multiple identities?

No, I would hesitate to give any company that much power over my multiple accounts. I remember the days of Microsoft Wallet, Passport etc. when Redmond wanted to integrate an ID for all Net activities whether it was commerce etc. I know Microsoft has since changed and amended their privacy clauses but I'm still hedging my bets. It'll be interesting to see how many people will sign up for OpenID which is an open and decentralized identity system. According to OpenID, its designed "not to crumble if one company turns evil or goes out of business" which I have to appreciate but still.

Exactly, ms.snarkalicious.

I bet that 400 MILLION Live account users have their accounts for their miscellaneous interactions with Microsoft (XBOX, Hotmail, Expedia, etc) but they may not use their ID to sync across different services. I would most likely sign up for a Live account just to have access to their web services but I am not likely to use it across other Microsoft platforms: a) because I'm not a typical Microsoft services user b) I'm a fan of keeping things seperate for privacy purposes. Who's to say if Microsoft doesn't peer into my accounts to see all my net activities? Or if Microsoft gets compromised and all my info gets hacked?

Is there any point where the value of reduced complexity would override your privacy concerns? I did a brief seminar on "free" services facilitated by ecommerce systems for an MBA class last week and, while the students started out really excited about the prospect of free stuff, they ended up concluding that there were limits to the level of control they'd be willing to give up in order to get free stuff. The easiest way to find that limit was to suggest a situation where one couldn't have something they wanted, because the company managing their "free" interactions decided it would lower the customer's value to the company.

Hmm. Interesting concept.... personally, as a victim of identity theft and as someone who has had multiple viruses on several computers, safety and privacy always come first. Like thegaitorbaiter, I wouldn't set my Live information to sync with various other accounts because it's just too risky.

In response to godsdog: generally speaking, I would say that, like the MBA students, most people who use the Web - especially for professional purposes - value their privacy over simplified services, but in these economic times, many people are willing to take a risk when something is free. And, as common as hacking is, a lot of people are under a false assumption that their private information is secure, which obviously is not always the case.

There is some truth to the cliche "you get what you pay for."