On October 1, 2012, Google Apps will no longer have the ability to export Google Docs format files in Office 1997-2003 formats. The announcement doesn’t specify it, but apparently users will still be able to export Google Docs format files to Microsoft Office formats associated with Office 2007, 2010, and 2013.

Is this a significant development?

I am not sure how significant this will be to businesses. I am sure there are still a substantial number of businesses using Office 2003, but I am uncertain how many spend a great deal of time moving documents from Google Apps to Office and then back again.

I can see this being a minor annoyance requiring some changes in procedures for some, but I cannot see how this could be a major problem for most businesses. But then again, I have been wrong more than once today, so perhaps we should ask TechRepublic members what they think.