Microsoft is planning a major ad campaign to educate consumers about its suite of free web-based applications, according to a story in The New York Post.

Microsoft had hoped to keep the $300 million campaign quiet while it entertained proposals from McCann Erickson, Fallon, JWT and Crispin Porter & Bogusky.

The new campaign highlights Microsoft's growing battle with Google, which has begun to undermine the software giant's clout by offering free web-based applications.

"They are trying to make Windows cool, relevant and internet-centric," an anonymous source familiar with the new campaign told The New York Post. "They don't want to be seen as a stodgy computer company."