This week Box.net announced new direct integration with Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) Docs from the Box interface. This means that Box users can create, edit and collaboratively edit Google Docs in real time from within Box.

It effectively makes Google Docs part of Box, and it's part of Box's continuing strategy to be the centerpiece of the enterprise cloud storage and collaboration experience.

It's worth noting that since you can share Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) Office documents inside of Google Docs using Google's Cloud Connect product, it provides a way to collaborate on Office docs as well. It was not the same as direct integration, however.

As Box CEO Aaron Levie pointed out in a blog post, the partnership with Google is in stark contrast to Microsoft. So far Microsoft has not opened its cloud offering, Office 365, to third party developers like Box--a move which, I have to agree with Levie, makes little sense.

As Levie writes, IT will demand integration like the Box-Google partnership across various cloud products. He understands that not everything has to come from Box. "Some [solutions] will come from us, many will come from our partners. Google is there. Microsoft isn't," wrote Levie.

Levie's criticism of Microsoft is harsh, but he's right. It's essential for cloud vendors (and particularly those focused on collaboration) to work across a variety of products. Levie clearly wants Box to connect to as many of these as possible and it's missing a crucial piece--direct integration with Microsoft Office via Office 365 at the moment.

The more partners to which it can link, the more successful Box will be. For now it has Google. As for Microsoft, I'm guessing Box would listen if they were approached.

For more information:
- see Aaron Levie's blog post
- see the Box press release

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