Google is now offering premium versions of their free software. They haven’t stopped giving software away and they aren’t running from their ad model but they are offering apps for money. “What,” you say, you thought Google gave everything away and advertisers paid for it all? That was yesterday.
With 450 million Office users and revenue at around 3.5 billion, there’s probably money in selling Google apps. It looks like Google will try and charge fifty bucks a year. Not bad but the apps are all online and there’s still a major gap in the mind of users between desktop and online apps.
You will get administration controls to enforce some of your business rules, like sharing documents outside the company. A few more features include 24/7 support for administrators, 10 gigs of storage per user and APIs to help you further integrate your email and data migrations.
I guess all that’s left now is for Microsoft to watch, listen,? improve? and release their own online version of Office.
Additional Resources
Google Press Release
Google Introduces New Business Version of Popular Hosted Applications
http://googlepress.blogspot.com/#117215450803411768
Google Vs. Microsoft: The Smackdown?€™s On!
http://www.megatechnews.com/google-vs-microsoft-the-smackdowns-on/
Google to launch new office tools in challenge to Microsoft
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/technology/article1421520.ece
Google Apps Premier Edition
http://www.ginside.com/2007/789/google-apps-premier-edition/
Google Apps Gets 24/7 Phone Support, What About…
http://www.codeandcoffee.com/2007/02/23/google-apps-gets-247-phone-support-what-about-google-checkout/
Office Live Will Be A Huge Productivity Tool
http://www.techcrunch.com/2005/11/02/office-live-will-be-huge-productivity-tool/
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