Corel WordPerfect Lightning enables end-users and partners to link the benefits of online tools accessed over the Internet, with the rich features of a desktop productivity application. WordPerfect Lightning represents the first component of an innovative new distribution and online services model for WordPerfect Office.

Available now from http://www.wordperfect.com/lightning , the WordPerfect Lightning beta is a free download that addresses a gap in today's word processing market. WordPerfect Lightning accelerates common productivity tasks, enabling users to consume, capture and re-use information and images faster and more easily than ever before. Comprised of both a desktop and online component, this tightly integrated productivity platform offers free access to premium online services – including collaboration and data storage – enabling users to take advantage of Web technologies without relying solely on Internet connectivity to accomplish key tasks.

"20 years ago, PC users started documents from a blank page," said Richard Carriere, General Manager for Office Productivity at Corel. "Today we spend most of our time consuming or reusing content, taking information from one place, whether it's the Web, email, documents or other sources, and incorporating it somewhere else. By blending desktop and Web applications in WordPerfect Lightning, Corel is taking a truly hybrid approach to computing, enabling users to maximize their productivity by making it simpler and faster to gather, organize and share critical information."

WordPerfect Lightning represents a significant change to the productivity landscape, allowing PC users to perform common tasks on both the desktop and on the Web. Leveraging the benefits of this hybrid environment, WordPerfect Lightning allows users to view, print and save information, plus create notes and other simple documents, without purchasing a full-featured office suite. When users need more advanced tools, WordPerfect Lightning offers one-click access to the full-featured Corel WordPerfect Office X3 in addition to a powerful array of online services. No other desktop or Web-based productivity application offers comparable functionality.

WordPerfect Lightning consists of four components: the Navigator, the Viewer, Lightning Notes, and the Connector. The Navigator is a central repository for the assembly and organization of content. The Viewer is an all-in-one document reading tool for the fast and simple viewing of documents in Microsoft Word, Adobe PDF, or Corel WordPerfect file formats. Lightning Notes is a lightweight word processor and note taking utility that acts as a universal container for ideas, information and images.

The Connector, powered by Joyent, is a suite of Web-based applications for teams and small businesses that provides individual users with email, calendars, address books and file storage. These functions are hosted on the Web, enabling team members to share information and collaborate on projects. Users receive 200MB of free online storage, plus shared calendaring, contacts and e-mail functionality.

WordPerfect Lightning (beta) is a lightweight, 20 MB download available beginning today from http://www.wordperfect.com/lightning . Corel encourages PC users to download the new software and provide feedback on the product.

Source: Corel