Is this the start of the REAL Google vs Microsoft war
This week, Google is likely to launch the first real threat to Microsoft through its Google Apps for Your Domain, a software bundle aimed at small and midsize companies. Information Week has a detailed insight into the Google strategy on the much await office suite.
The package will combine Google's email, calendar and instant messaging with website creation software. Later this year, Google will also add its Writely word processor and Google Spreadsheets to the package. These are softwares that are in direct competition to MS Word and MS Excel. But the competition is not that straightforward.
Google does not plan to offer these software offline. This means that you have to be connected to the internet to use the office suites. This limits the usage of the package a great deal. Does this mean Microsoft is safe? Maybe, for the time being...
But Google does not seem to give in so easily. It has a great counterpunch to hurt Microsoft. Google provides users the facility to translate the file on to the Google format once they share the files online. This means that you can store your files online and then work on it wherever you are, through the internet. For all those of you who spend the best part of your life in airport lounges, this could be the news you were waiting for.
So what is the catch?
One: A privacy issue. The Google package demands that the data is stored on the Google databank, not on your office server. How many of us would be comfortable with sharing our business intelligence with an outsider?
Two: Advertising. Google intends to use its keyword advertising in the documents created through the software. This means that your report on competition benchmarks could be linked to various potential advertisers sites. This, at the very least, could be intrusive and irritating.
Why am I writing about this? Because the activity presents a unique opportunity and a risk in communication management.
How should Google propogate this message? And how should Microsoft counter it?
Google must present the package as one of "convenience in mobility". It should not present this as an alternative to MS applications, but as a step ahead in communication.
Google must allay fears on privacy, for me, this will be primary risk. It will also have to explain how it will make online advertising non-intrusive. Google is smart, it understands that business documentation needs to be meddled with very carefully. Therefore, it is going to test the waters with a free demo before it enters the market big time.
Microsoft, on the other hand, should play the Quality and Durability card, big time. It should go all out to woo small businesses that are the primary targets of Google. Small businessmen are averse to taking risks, especially with their business intelligence. Microsoft must play to this sense of caution through their messaging. It must also attack the offline customer with full force. Because, these guys are going to go online some time soon.
The war is going to start next week. It will be an interesting one - both as a business and communication management. One that might define the future of computing....
The package will combine Google's email, calendar and instant messaging with website creation software. Later this year, Google will also add its Writely word processor and Google Spreadsheets to the package. These are softwares that are in direct competition to MS Word and MS Excel. But the competition is not that straightforward.
Google does not plan to offer these software offline. This means that you have to be connected to the internet to use the office suites. This limits the usage of the package a great deal. Does this mean Microsoft is safe? Maybe, for the time being...
But Google does not seem to give in so easily. It has a great counterpunch to hurt Microsoft. Google provides users the facility to translate the file on to the Google format once they share the files online. This means that you can store your files online and then work on it wherever you are, through the internet. For all those of you who spend the best part of your life in airport lounges, this could be the news you were waiting for.
So what is the catch?
One: A privacy issue. The Google package demands that the data is stored on the Google databank, not on your office server. How many of us would be comfortable with sharing our business intelligence with an outsider?
Two: Advertising. Google intends to use its keyword advertising in the documents created through the software. This means that your report on competition benchmarks could be linked to various potential advertisers sites. This, at the very least, could be intrusive and irritating.
Why am I writing about this? Because the activity presents a unique opportunity and a risk in communication management.
How should Google propogate this message? And how should Microsoft counter it?
Google must present the package as one of "convenience in mobility". It should not present this as an alternative to MS applications, but as a step ahead in communication.
Google must allay fears on privacy, for me, this will be primary risk. It will also have to explain how it will make online advertising non-intrusive. Google is smart, it understands that business documentation needs to be meddled with very carefully. Therefore, it is going to test the waters with a free demo before it enters the market big time.
Microsoft, on the other hand, should play the Quality and Durability card, big time. It should go all out to woo small businesses that are the primary targets of Google. Small businessmen are averse to taking risks, especially with their business intelligence. Microsoft must play to this sense of caution through their messaging. It must also attack the offline customer with full force. Because, these guys are going to go online some time soon.
The war is going to start next week. It will be an interesting one - both as a business and communication management. One that might define the future of computing....
posted by chakkare at
9:22 PM
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