Zoho, a company responsible for the creation of one of the finest Web-based software suites in existence, today unveiled a much-anticipated update to its word processor.

While a previous iteration of the utility enabled the user the option to read documents while not connected to a broadband service, courtesy of Google’s Gears plug-in, Zoho’s new release of Writer allows for total offline access.

That means reading and editing is now possible with the new Zoho-plus-Google Gears combo. Which is something worthy of a bit of celebration, no? Considering how no other online office software package we know of has yet enabled such seamless, full-scale use thus far, we think this makes for quite an announcement.

The appeal of Zoho Office to us at Profy is two-fold, really. For one, it’s a wide selection of Web-based applications strong enough in their own respective skins to compete effectively with others in the industry. Sure, Google has the name-recognition and the market penetration to keep the crown out of Zoho’s reach as far as user numbers go, despite the independent software vendor’s clear code-specific advantages. But rarely has such a business managed to play with the big boys and nab itself as much critical acclaim as Zoho has in seasons past. Secondly, as mentioned just a few lines above, it’s independent. It’s not held under the auspices of a Web giant. (Not yet, anyway.) It doesn’t answer to a parent's concerns. It’s influenced only by its staff and its users. Which affords it the ability to focus on a single goal: developing the best online office suite. Nothing else. Just the software.

Today’s release of an upgraded Writer proves that Zoho is continuing well along on that very path, making the most of its unique position in the marketplace.

Yes, for sure, Zoho must chalk it up to Google Gears for making it possible to further the powerset of its own software. But Zoho operates in its own interest in developing on the basis of Google’s plug-in. Users expect to find Zoho’s various facets functioning easily and effectively, and with the inevitable “popularity” that’s been bestowed on Google Gears, it makes logical sense to climb aboard the gravy train and benefit from the presumed universality that will eventually become of GG. No use fighting the tide, eh?

Besides, who wants yet another plug-in? Better to group hug, as it were, than go it alone. You know, save some energy for more important things. Like developing better software.

And, hey, as of this moment, Zoho trumps Google at its own game, which is something of a bonus achievement, if you want to get technical about it. One would think Google would be working feverishly to ensure it the first company to release an updated word processor with full read/edit access before all other industry contenders.

Alas, Zoho crossed the finish line ahead of the monster of Mountain View.