Google for Business..Good Fit?
Reuters Article: Google expands into business software market
Google Inc. is expanding into the business software market. They are doing this through an offering of web based programs. These apps include e-mail, scheduling, and web publishing tools.
Other big corps, such as IBM, Oracle, and SAP, are also moving to make similar offerings. But what is the real cost? Google is offering these applications free to small businesses, universities, and other nonprofits. Their advancded version however will cost.
But initial software investment aside, is there a hidden cost? Are there some potential downsides?
I see a few potential issues:
1) Lack of control over virus/worm tools for email, scheduling and instant messaging tools. How much of a guarantee will or does Google make for the safety of tools provided entirely online? Microsoft is already swimming upstream with software that runs scripting software from the net and connects behind the scenes to the internet.
2) What about storage costs? Is Google going to offer unlimited or very cheap storage of documents, email and calendars? What about the logs Google may or may not keep regarding instant messenger transcripts.
3) Then what about lag and inaccessability. An application that exists only online is useless if you are suddenly without internet access. Will Google begin offering offline versions via Java/Ajax/Javascript applications at some extra cost?
The same could be said of those other big vendors making similar offerings. And for a final thought, is this just another example of the cycle between centralized and distributed computer and application use.
What do you think? Do you have some inside user scoop? Work for Google perhaps?
And I can't help myself....what's to keep Wal-mart from underpricing Google. You know they'll do it if it can be done. Ha.
Your Googling Fool Blogger,
Tojosan
1 thoughts:
1) Viruses and worms are not much of a problem except on Windows. When's the last time you ran a virus scan on your '400? To the extent that Google tools are "provided entirely online," there is no virus or worm problem because Google does not use Windows.
2) Storage space is very, very cheap. It's still expensive enough for Google to limit email account space, but it's cheap enough to make that limit > 2 GB. So I guess they could just as easily support a 2GB spreadsheet with ads. Perhaps Google can find some way to derive additional revenue in cases where there is demand for spreadsheets in excess of 2GB or for users who dislike ads.
3) I'll not speculate on that.
By the way, if Google is taking an extreme long-term view, then they may not see much point in chasing after big dumb companies. In that case, they could avoid a number of expenses:
- allaying irrational corporate fears about security
- accomodating corporate desires for hierarchical control
- making it uncontroversial to suggest changing the corporate standard by beating the competition at their own game
- countering the FUD put out by the competition
It is a shame that hosted applications are often closed to copying, inspection, extension, and reuse by end-users.
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