Google’s online word-processing service was originally called Writely before becoming Google Docs.
Writely was developed by Upstartle, a small software company founded by Claudia Carpenter, Steve Newman, and others. Its browser-based editor let people create and collaborate on documents online, at a time when most word processing still centered on desktop software.
Google acquired Upstartle in 2006 and temporarily restricted new registrations while integrating the service. Writely later became part of Google Docs, which expanded beyond word processing to include spreadsheets, presentations, forms, and collaborative editing.
Writely is sometimes confused with Google Drive because the products are closely related today. Google Drive launched in 2012 as a storage and file-management service, while Google Docs was the document-editing product. The original Writely name belongs specifically to the word processor acquired from Upstartle.