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Google has [acquired Zenter][1], an online slideshow maker that has largely flown under the radar. Zenter is actually the second slideshow related software that Google has swallowed in recent months, the first being Tonic Systems.
Zenter is largely a front end application focusing on presentation and sharing features, while Tonic is is a back end app which can convert Powerpointfiles into Java documents.
Together the acquisitions pave the way for the missing link in Google Docs -- a Powerpoint competitor.
Though no firm dates have been revealed, look for the new features to be added to a "Presentations" apps in Google Docs & Spreadsheets sometime soon.
Now the Google has all the pieces in place Google Docs looks, to be ready to take on Microsoft Office -- especially for those consumers that want online functionality in their office suite, something Office 2007 largely lacks.
However, as Om Malik over at GigaOm [points out][2], Google needs to work on the integration between the various Google Docs components before it's ready to hit primetime. Thus far Google docs lacks the cohesion of a true "suite."
The closest competitor in the online market is undoubtedly Zoho, which offers similar tools, but thus far lacks the email integration of GMail (Zoho Mail is currently a private beta).
[1]: http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2007/06/more-sharing.html "More sharing"
[2]: http://gigaom.com/2007/06/19/enter-zenter-google-office-is-now-complete/ "Enter Zenter, Google Office is now complete"
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