Google Office Version 1.0: Angriff auf Microsoft

"Google Office Version 1.0" nennt Dan Farber im ZDnet-Blog das neueste Angebot des Suchmaschinenbetreibers und bringt damit die Stoßrichtung deutlich auf den Punkt: Mit dem webbasierten Softwarepaket für Unternehmen hat Google die Office-Suite von Microsoft im Visier. Allerdings - und deshalb auch die Versionsnummer 1.0 - im Vergleich zu Microsoft Office ist das Google-Angebot noch ziemlich unvollständig.

Offiziell heißt der neue Service "Google Apps For Your Domain" und enthält die Bestandteile E-Mail ("Google Mail"), Terminplanung ("Calendar"), Instant Messaging ("Talk") sowie Web-Seitengestaltung ("Page Creator"). Die Tabellenkalkulation "Google Spreadsheets" und die Online-Textverarbeitung "Writely" sind aktuell noch nicht dabei, ihre spätere Integration wird aber nicht ausgeschlossen.

Die Web-Anwendungen, die derzeit nur auf englisch angeboten werden, lassen sich unter anderem mit Logos und eigenen Farben im eigenen Corporate Design gestalten. Unternehmen können die Services, die komplett bei Google gehostet werden, in beliebiger Kombination unter der eigenen Internet-Adresse in ihre Domain integrieren und kostenlos nutzen.

Das "For Your Domain"-Paket beinhaltet unter anderem 2 Gigabyte E-Mail-Speicherplatz und ein Tool, über das Administratoren die Dienste kontrollieren und neue Nutzer verwalten können. Google will später in diesem Jahr auch eine kostenpflichtige Premium-Version von "Google Apps for your Domain" einführen, die auf größere Anwender abzielt und unter anderem zusätzlichen Speicherplatz und technischen Support umfasst.

Mit der Initiative betritt Google den Markt für Mietsoftware per Internet ("Software as a Service" - SaaS). Hierbei werde keine gekauften Softwarepakete mehr genutzt, sondern bei Bedarf Dienste im Internet verwendet. "Ich denke, das ist eine unglaubliche Chance: Mietsoftware per Internet wird sehr gut angenommen, weil man nur das kauft, was man will", ist Google-Manager Dave Girouard überzeugt.

Analysten warnen jedoch, dass der SaaS-Markt noch sehr jung sei und die Kunden vorsichtig agierten. "Die Unternehmen werden nicht alles über Bord werfen und plötzlich in Scharen auf Google umsteigen", glaubt Matt Brown, Analyst bei Forrester Research. Denn gerade bei Kommunikations- und Teamanwendungen in Firmen stellten sich "alle möglichen Sicherheits- und Datenschutzprobleme".

Snarky Anti-Google Apps Press Release Pokes Fun

Intermedia managed to get a well-linked press release out, thanks to Google’s new Apps For Your Domain. The release pokes fun at the similarities and limitations of GAFYD compared to Intermedia’s own hosted Exchange services. They tout Google’s 24/0 support for customers, among other things. A selection:

24×0 support. This is important because companies for whom email and schedules are mission-critical will want to know they can pick up a phone and get support 24 hours a day, 0 days per week. Google also gives the option of filling out a support form and receiving an automated response.

No wireless access. Where Intermedia.NET hosted Exchange gives users access to information via BlackBerry, Treo, Q or any other device, Google has bucked this trend, perhaps suggesting that wireless email is in fact a productivity-sapping distraction for employees.

Ads inside applications. Clearly, employees are more productive when their business applications stream ads for online poker sites and pills to combat ED.

No uptime guarantee. Rather than a predictable 99.9% uptime guarantee, such as the one offered by Intermedia.NET, Google does not provide a set percentage of the time when email will be up and running. This keeps corporate collaboration more exciting, by allowing staff to guess whether the system will be working or not.

Intermedia.NET, which offers 24×7 telephone and email support, concedes that there is an upside to Google’s 24×0 solution, in that it allows a company’s staff to take a much-needed break from work while waiting for a response to their technical problem. However, the company believes that continuous telephone support is still preferred by most businesses.

I love it when a company shows some balls, and takes an opportunity to explain what their company does in a non-spammy way. I like it so much, I’m going to have to take a look at Intermedia’s offerings. Are these prices pretty typical?

Google enterprise apps will raise Microsoft's hackles

Google's recent introduction of communications applications for enterprises will prompt an aggressive response from Microsoft, Gartner predicted today.

Google announced on 28 August that it will release a package of enterprise hosted applications, entitled Google Apps for Your Domain.

Included initially will be email, calendaring, voice over IP and webpage authoring applications.

"We believe that Microsoft is likely to respond aggressively," a Gartner advisory written by analysts Whit Andrews, David Gootzit and Gene Phifer noted.

"The rivalry between Google and other vendors like Microsoft will probably confuse the market by producing overlapping business models and unintegrated, competing products, but could benefit users of both product lines by invigorating competition.

"This announcement offers a glimpse of the scope of Google's ambition of generating significant revenue from the enterprise sector to avoid relying solely on the consumer market.

"Its plan to provide applications such as email, calendaring, instant messaging and voice chatting is a logical next step in the progression of deepening its relationship with users."

According to Gartner, Google's enterprise offering will stand or fall based on the levels of security, support and service offered by the web giant.

"The way in which Google chooses to address service-level agreements, security, technical support and integration with existing applications will be critical to Google Apps' destiny," said the analysts.

The study also suggested that the enterprise application offering follows Google's recent trend of placing its products and services directly in front of end users without the intercession of IT departments.

"We believe that Google has elected to offer communications applications first mainly because of their popularity," Gartner's report stated.

"Google's move will also allow time for productivity applications based on word processors and spreadsheets to mature.

"We expect that these services will initially be adopted by enterprises that have less demanding feature needs and are extremely sensitive to prices.

"Some enterprises will wait for a no-advertising version to become available for formal fees."

Gartner predicts that Google will offer subscription versions in the near future, possibly as early as 2007.

Google enterprise apps will raise Microsoft's hackles

Google's recent introduction of communications applications for enterprises will prompt an aggressive response from Microsoft, Gartner predicted today.

Google announced on 28 August that it will release a package of enterprise hosted applications, entitled Google Apps for Your Domain.

Included initially will be email, calendaring, voice over IP and webpage authoring applications.

"We believe that Microsoft is likely to respond aggressively," a Gartner advisory written by analysts Whit Andrews, David Gootzit and Gene Phifer noted.

"The rivalry between Google and other vendors like Microsoft will probably confuse the market by producing overlapping business models and unintegrated, competing products, but could benefit users of both product lines by invigorating competition.

"This announcement offers a glimpse of the scope of Google's ambition of generating significant revenue from the enterprise sector to avoid relying solely on the consumer market.

"Its plan to provide applications such as email, calendaring, instant messaging and voice chatting is a logical next step in the progression of deepening its relationship with users."

According to Gartner, Google's enterprise offering will stand or fall based on the levels of security, support and service offered by the web giant.

"The way in which Google chooses to address service-level agreements, security, technical support and integration with existing applications will be critical to Google Apps' destiny," said the analysts.

The study also suggested that the enterprise application offering follows Google's recent trend of placing its products and services directly in front of end users without the intercession of IT departments.

"We believe that Google has elected to offer communications applications first mainly because of their popularity," Gartner's report stated.

"Google's move will also allow time for productivity applications based on word processors and spreadsheets to mature.

"We expect that these services will initially be adopted by enterprises that have less demanding feature needs and are extremely sensitive to prices.

"Some enterprises will wait for a no-advertising version to become available for formal fees."

Gartner predicts that Google will offer subscription versions in the near future, possibly as early as 2007.

Google talks to eBay

Google has teamed up with eBay to provide click-to-call adverts that work with Skype and Google Talk.

The two companies will develop a system that allows users to click a link in an advert to initiate a voice call with participating eBay merchants or Google advertisers over eBay-owned Skype or Google Talk.

Skype will bundle the Google Toolbar with future downloads and in return get a custom button on the browser add-on.

As part of the agreement, Google will also become the exclusive text-based advertising provider for eBay outside the US.

"We are pleased to expand our long-standing relationship with Google to explore new market opportunities, like click-to-call advertising, that benefit both our communities of users," said Meg Whitman, president and chief executive at eBay.

Google chief executive Eric Schmidt, who has just joined the board of Apple, added: "Our technologies will allow us to connect users to relevant advertising across eBay's international properties."

The companies plan to begin testing the functionality in early 2007.

Google CEO Joins Apple Board

BetaNews says Google CEO Eric Schmidt was elected to Apple's board of directors Monday.Joining the likes of former Vice President Al Gore and Apple chief executive Steve Jobs. Jobs noted that "Eric’s insights and experience will be very valuable in helping to guide Apple in the years ahead.”

“Apple is one of the companies in the world that I most admire,” commented Schmidt. “I'm really looking forward to working with Steve and Apple’s board to help with all of the amazing things Apple is doing.” Schmidt additionally serves on Google's board and Princeton University’s board of trustees.