Software developer and IT consulting services provider Pagos will this month formally release SpreadsheetLIVE, an online real-time spreadsheet service, after a year of beta testing.

The service delivers a fully-featured spreadsheet application, similar to Microsoft Excel, but in an Internet browser-based environment that allows users to create spreadsheets from scratch online or upload and share existing spreadsheets.

Unlike installed software, SpreadsheetLIVE allows multiple users to simultaneously edit a spreadsheet through an online control panel. The service is aimed at improving efficiency and reducing errors and confusion created when multiple users edit the same worksheet one at a time.

SpreadsheetLIVE connects directly to a database and automatically synchronizes information in the spreadsheet as it is updated in real-time. “You will be able to run everything from a browser,” said Pagos CEO Ugur Kadakal. Doing so allows for greater flexibility in collaboration and without e-mailing files to several individuals who may not all be aware which is the most current, Kadakal added.

The service is free for users of the beta-test version and will be made available with expanded features, including larger file capability, once a paid version is released, said Kadakal. Users should be able to purchase server licenses by the end of the year, he added.

The system includes most of the same features commonly found in Excel and other standard spreadsheet applications, including support for cell formatting and for commonly used charts such as organizational charts and pivot tables. It is compatible with Excel files and common Internet browsers, including Internet Explorer.

Proprietary data remains on the company’s internal servers, reducing the risk of a security breach. SpreadsheetLIVE relies on its own proprietary calculation engine and does not depend on third-party products. A hosted solution is also available for individual and small business use.

For more information and to test-drive a beta version, visit www.spreadsheetlive.com.