Corel Corp. (NASDAQ: CREL) is a veteran of the tech world. One of its main products, WordPerfect, was one of the first word processors for the PC and despite the onslaught from Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT), is still selling.

But there are a flood of alternatives now – especially online versions. In fact, Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) has been piecing together an Office-like suite of productivity applications, which it plans to sell for $50 per year.

According to an announcement today, Corel is about to fight back, launching a free online version of WordPerfect, called Lightning. It's currently in the beta phase.This looks like it is just the beginning and I'd expect more applications to be bundled to the Lightning.

Corel is taking a freemium approach, meaning that after users download the free version and use it, they might be more inclined to eventually buy the premium version.

On its face, it doesn't seem like it will get traction. However, Corel plans to partner with other companies so as to share revenues. And, over the years, Corel has put together a massive ecosystem of partnerships.

You can check Lightning out at the Corel Web site.

Tom Taulli is the author of various books, including the Complete M&A Handbook and the EDGAR-Online Guide to Decoding Financial Statements.

Next time you have a hankering to listen to your iPod during a thunderstorm, you may want to do that inside. Jason Bunch could tell you that from first-hand experience. The Colorado 17-year-old was listening to his iPod when lightning struck on his lawn.

The earbuds conducted the eletricity right into Bunch's ears, rupturing his eardrums, singing his hair and burning him from his ears to his feet. Experts say that any electronic device held up to a person's ear (including cell phones and, we're certain, Microsoft's new iPod "killer") could direct the current from a lightning bolt similarly.

[Photo ocean yamaha]