InformationWeek has broken the news tonight that Google has taken the wraps off the much-rumored Google Apps Premier Edition. Michael at Techcrunch got wind that something was up for today (it's Thursday already) and updated his post with the news. From IW:
Google Apps Premier Edition, unveiled Thursday, features online e-mail, calendaring, messaging and talk applications as well as a word processor and a spreadsheet. The launch follows Google's introduction of a similar suite aimed at consumers last August. The new Premier Edition, however, offers enhancements aimed squarely at corporate environments.
“Businesses are looking for applications that are simple and intuitive for employees, but also offer security, reliability and manageability,” says Dave Girouard, VP and general manager for Google Enterprise.
Specifically, Google Apps Premier Edition features application programming interfaces that businesses can use to integrate it with their own applications. Ten Gigabytes (10GB) of storage for ad-free Gmail is offered standard, meaning workers can spend more time working and less time cleaning out their in-boxes. And Google is offering service level agreements that promise 99.9% uptime and 24×7 tech support.
But possibly the most compelling aspect of Google Apps — at least from the standpoint of potential customers considering a switch from Microsoft products — is the price. Google is offering the whole package for just $50 per user, per year. Microsoft does not publish volume licensing prices for the Enterprise Edition of Office 2007, its latest entry in the office productivity market. The price of a standalone copy of the Professional Edition is $499.
Source: Google Targets Microsoft With Launch Of Business Applications - InformationWeek
We've been using Gmail for Domains at One By One Media for a while now and I've been extremely pleased with it, both as the administrator and end-user. Adding new e-mail addresses and group e-mails takes only a minute and since it's Gmail at the core, it can has very good (not perfect) spam filters and the ability to download to Outload and check it online. We haven't made much use of the Calendar or other features, the no-hassle e-mail has been great on it's own.
Here's the question/issue I have with this new offering. While having e-mail, etc hosted is great, I wonder about relying on a hosted service like this for such core and essential things as word processing and spreadsheets. Will people just wind up getting frustrated at not being able to edit a proposal on the plane or just offline and demand a local app anyway? Will companies then look to OpenOffice instead of spending more money by getting MS Office licenses?
Bill Gates has said repeatedly, when challenged about Microsoft's monoply on the desktop, that it wouldn't take much for some sharp application to come along and topple them. While he might have been overstating this just a tad, you have to wonder with Vista sale lagging, Office 2007 probably at least a year or two before it becomes widely used, is this a serious blow to Microsoft?
Maybe not. CenterNetworks brings up this excellent point:
There is one thing to consider. When a company purchases Office, they can do what they want with it (basically). When a company uses an app like Google is providing, they have to agree to the terms Google wants. For example:
3.3. Suspension and Termination of Accounts. Google reserves the right to suspend or terminate End User Accounts in response to a violation or suspected violation of any applicable terms of use or policy.
So its 3am, you are trying to finish a company memo, something (error or not) flags the Google system, you are now “suspended” and all content is locked (I guess, terms do not discuss this part). While I don't see it happening often, I could see a mistake here and there.
Source: CenterNetworks
Yeah that would ruin my day.
Okay we have Google now launching what could be called the “Google Office”. A rumored PowerPoint alternative hasn't emerged yet (it is only 12:20 AM on Thursday?the day is young!). Is a GoogleOS next? Is a deal or some new technology coming that lets you edit and save the documents from GoogleOffice locally?
Yeah, if I were Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer, I'd be worried.
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