Well, well, Microsoft is not beyond using money as a lure to attract more users for its products. As announced, the company will provide a $100,000 sweepstakes prize for those who will take part in the U.S. beta testing of the Web-based version of the Microsoft Office Live service. $100,000 is certainly a great incentive for lots of people to join the beta testing. But you have to be at least 18 years old in order to join the sweepstakes. You can sign up now over at Microsoft’s website. You must sign up now if you’re interested because aside from the $100,000, Microsoft will also be giving away other mouth-watering freebies like 300 units of Xbox 360, 500 Samsung Blackjack II, 200 30GB Zune media player, 400 Expedia travel vouchers amounting to $300 each and other Microsoft products. Pretty interesting huh? Better sign up now.

But I think even without the mentioned “lures” it’s going to be fun having a first-hand experience in the Microsoft Office Live Workspace because of the new features added to it. Office Live is primarily designed for individual users as well as small businesses. And having an online extension of this tool just makes it even more convenient and advantageous. The user can access any Office application on any PC as long as there is an Internet Connection. So even if the PC has no Office program installed he can still run the service.

Aside from the Office programs, Microsoft also added email notification, multi-file upload and activity panel. All of these new features can make the Office Live Workspace a worthy competitor to Google Apps.