Google and Salesforce have deepened their existing relationship, presenting a more formidable challenge to Microsoft's suite of productivity software.

The partnership integrates Google Apps products, which include word processing, spreadsheet and e-mail components, into Salesforce's customer relationship management service. The combo will be available as a hosted (SaaS) service, which means users can access them online without having to download software.

This deal integrates more cross-product functionality between two popular tools, and presents a direct challenge to Microsoft and its integrated Office suite, which includes productivity software and a CRM product for businesses.

Microsoft remains nonplussed, asserting it is not concerned about the Google/Salesforce integration.