Someone at Microsoft is paying attention to the blogosphere.  At least once a month, I get a personalized email from a non-Microsoft address inviting me to write about the company, usually to provide PR for one of their B2B products.  This month – success- let’s talk about Microsoft Office Accounting Express 2007!

Even if you don’t keep the books for a small business, there are several interesting things about this release.  In a reversal of the usual roles, Microsoft is taking on market leader Intuit’s QuickBooks by offering its product free – take that Google Spreadsheets! 

From a strategic point of view, the idea is not only to steal market share at the mom-and-pop end of the spectrum (QuickBooks SimpleStart is $99), but also to drive adoption of the as-yet-unreleased Microsoft Office 2007, which is required for some features.  Now that’s more like it!

In conjunction with the release, Strawberry Frog is running the Idea Wins Ultimate Challenge campaign, a nationwide search for the best small business idea.  The winner gets $100,000, a year’s lease of a Manhattan storefront, and business software.  Get those entries in by the end of January!

Read an editorial review at CNET.

Misha Cornes