In its latest effort to lure business users away from Microsoft, Google has taken the wraps off a new web-based collaborative software suite.

Called Google Sites, the offering allows groups to quickly build web sites and share information on projects. According to the search giant, the suite overcomes the “silos of information” that exist inside most organisations.

You’ve got to hate those silos. They happen when one part of a business has data that would be of great benefit to another part – it’s just that no one knows about it or sharing it is just too darn difficult.

Why the Sites offering is not called a wiki is unclear as, well, that’s exactly what it is. In fact it’s built on wiki technology created by a little company called JotSpot that Google acquired more than a year ago.

Google is positioning the service, which becomes part of its Google Apps family, as being very easy to work with. Users don’t need to understand HTML or have a clue about site design. The site’s web-based interface allows team members to pull together anything from documents and images to video clips and audio files. A series of page templates makes getting things up and running easy.

It’s pitched at exactly the same market segment as Microsoft’s SharePoint but has the distinct advantage of being free. Its tight integration with Google’s other Apps offerings will also be a strong selling point for many users.

The launch is further evidence of Google’s determination to continue to attack Microsoft where it believes it can have the most impact. And, for many small businesses, the attack will work. Why would you shell out significant sums for a SharePoint license when you can now get most of the functionality for nothing?

Add the ease of use, ability to customise and familiar Google interface and the offering becomes even more attractive.

If your business revolves around group work, you’d do well to check out Sites – it might just kill off those pesky silos once and for all.