May 1st, 2007
How Google loses in Microsoft Office battle, big time
UPDATE: Is Google Office really an enigma?
Why does Google CEO Eric Schmidt take pains to publicly downplay Google Apps versus Microsoft, while encouraging Googlers to take to the field for Google vs. Microsoft Office, big time?
After all, neither Schmidt or the company he leads are known for their modesty: Google is determined to “organize” ALL the world’s information and its CEO has designs on ALL the world’s advertising.
Is Schmidt merely playing word games? Per chance, is he playing “nice” with Microsoft. Doubtful, everything Google does is highly calculated, with a Google-centric winning end game the ultimate target.
No, the Schmidt “we can all get along” and “we’re all in this together for the better good of the user” mind game is a disarming one.
By positioning itself as Office “harmless,” Google aims to deprive competitors of means of attack, all the while declaring to its own Apps troops: “Death to the (Microsoft) hierarcy!”
But, in whose tent does Google Apps really camp?
Google believes its winning strategy is to drive Googley consumerization of the enterprise, and the organization, by popular consumer demand for the "who can resist" Google brand:
(What) led us to develop Google Apps in the first place? Users want the same convenience and useful features (like the ability to share calendars with their spouse) in the products they use at work as in the ones they use in their personal lives.
In Google aims to usurp campus email systems, I dissect Google’s plan to make an end run around both university administration and IT management by inciting student body rebellious cries of “We want Google Apps”!
But, is that really the way to win over the hearts, minds and maybe even wallets, of the still in control decision makers?
ZDNet commenters underscore how Google’s end-runs may turn into Apps strike-outs:
John Zern: Right, usurp the decisions made by those responsible for the network and try an end run when the college doesn't standardize on your choice. I guess we are seeing just how little Google cares about anyone beyond their bottom line. I guess now is the time for colleges to start blocking Google at their servers.
No_Ax_To_Grind: Hmmm make IT angry and have your IP addy blocked. Yeah, there is a plan. NOT
Kraterz: This is just corporate greed. This may be a good "corporate value add" plan but it is just greed, it is not helping the student. If I were a student, I'd be more concerned about getting my work done.
Most students have a laptop these days, with apps loaded on them. They will always have access to their work and documents, no matter what happens to the network, google or anything else. If the department email system fails, you can always walk up to your sysadm and get it working in 10 minutes. Try doing that or even getting to communicate with a human when google fails (which is not uncommon).
Jabailo1: GOOG Kite flies high. Well, I guess the earnings couldn't push GOOG to stay above 500, so they have to do more high profile kiting like "University Initiatives".
By the time those college kids realize they've been handed a boatload of poorly written web applications, the Google Geniuses will have cashed in their options and be yachting towards Borneo.
UPDATE: Is Google Office really an enigma?
ALSO: Google user data cloud: Do you trust it?
