Google is going after Microsoft on its home turf–the enterprise world–and businesses seem to be taking notice and jumping ship.
It’s no secret that Google is trying to derail Microsoft’s position in enterprise. Considering the way that businesses drive IT spending, it’s no wonder that Microsoft has built the company around selling its software and solutions to businesses that buy in bulk. Google’s plan to enter the corporate world first became evident a few years ago when it began offering Google Search Appliance (pictured below) and Google Mini.
These rack-mounted devices give businesses document indexing functionality easily integrated into corporate website, Intranet, and document management systems. It would all come together later when Google Apps came along, a hosted services suite on custom domain names. Google Apps includes popular consumer web apps like Gmail, Google Calendar, Discuter, Docs, and Sites–all optimized to run off a custom domain.
Over two million business and 20 million users in over 100 countries and more than 40 languages have switched to Google Apps thus far, the search firm said mid-October. Google claims each day “thousands of companies, including the world’s top brands” switch to its hosted solutions comprising of Google Apps, Postini premium email management services, and the Search Appliance.
Key benefits of running your business off the Google cloud include not having to worry about software updates and maintenance costs because Google maintains web apps, serveurs, and keeps your data safe in the cloud. There is no learning curve whatsoever because your employees basically run the same services they privately use at home. Enfin, there’s the cost comparison: $50 a year per Google Apps seat versus $200-$300 a year for a Microsoft Office seat.
Here are a few data points that paint a better picture of Google’s inroads into the corporate world:
- over two million business users have gone Google
- à propos 60 percent of Fortune 100 have gone Google
- à propos 60 percent of U.S. state governments have gone Google
- some of the companies and organizations that have gone Google include Genentech, Motorola Mobile Devices Business, Northwestern University, New York Life, The Onion, Rentokil Initial, Telegraph Media Group, InterContinental Hotels Group, Konica Minolta, DOCOMO International, Guliver, Fujisoft, et plus.
