NEWSLETTERS
 

CIO.com updates, insights and advice on technology, management and your career.

 
 
 
SUBSCRIBE TO CIO
 
Are you involved in setting the direction for your company's IT budget or strategy?

Apply today for a FREE subscription to CIO Magazine!

 


Thu, Aug 23, 2007 11:28 EDT

"Deploy Google Apps, get fired" article

Topic: Architecture

Current Rating: 3 Comments: 2

If I had any doubts that Google Apps poses a serious threat to the software business, they have been dissipated after reading the following article from TechWorld: "Deploy Google Apps, get fired"

Here is the link:

http://www.techworld.com/applications/news/index.cfm?newsid=9877

In short, the author talks about a report from the Burton Group which describes why the set of applications (and associated hosting services) provided by Google just don't cut it for large-entreprise use although for SMB and even universities its use is, however, seen as appropriate.

Although this is debatable and I am sure many would take a stab at debunking the argument exposed, I don't find it particularly surprising and so should no one.

What this article does (although it does not recognize it) is merely to expose Google Apps for what it is: a disruptive technology.

Disruptive technologies start out as really shabby versions of existing software applications (such as Office) which are laden with functionality that 80% of the users do not use such as:

- "Google Docs does not support a table of contents, headers, footers, automatic creation of footnotes or end notes."

- "Google Spreadsheets does not support some of the more esoteric functions within formulas (eg, database functions), and cannot hide rows or columns."

So what? It is not supposed to do that anyway...

Furthermore, what characterizes disruptive technologies is the fact that they appeal to the less demanding users that have been overshot by the overwhelming amount of functionality that they have to pay for with Microsoft Office - i.e. the schools, the universities and the home users

These are users that really don't care about nifty functionalities that a minority uses and are not willing to pay for them.

The report ends by saying that although Microsoft and others will take a hit from this, in the end they will be just fine. This might be true in the short term - another characteristic of disruptive technologies is that the type of customers they attract are the low-margin customers for Microsoft. So, in the short term, Microsoft will actually see its margins improve due to the disappearance of this lousy customers from the customer mix, but as Google Apps improves and it will improve, then the business customers will start migrating to Google Apps AND THEN it will be too late for Microsoft - the floodgates will open...

Keywords:

google apps

You do not have flash or javascript support.
Average (2 votes)
3
 
 
Thu, Aug 23, 2007 14:17 EDT
Posted by: C.G. Lynch
Rating: 80

For starters, I definitely agree that Google apps is a disruptive technology. Though it's features remain limited, it shows that people might start to think twice about the need for expensive and bloated software for the majority of their users.

But the Burton report doesn't do anything to indicate to me that Google Apps won't be a player in the enterprise apps market in the future (to say so, in fact, is just false since they claim to have nearly 1,000 businesses of all sizes signing up each day). The Burton report is a knee-jerk reaction to those who are obsessed with trying to compare Google to Microsoft in the office apps space. They are very different not only in terms of look and functions, but, most importantly, in terms of purpose.

 

Google apps is made for people to collaborate on projects in a way that's more user friendly than e-mailing each other documents and renaming them haphazardly.

A more pertinent discussion for the Burton report might have been to focus more on Google's addition of Sun Office to Google Pack, which does seem more of a shot across Microsoft's bow. (But to be fair, I'm sure they wrote the report before that news).

 

 
Fri, Aug 24, 2007 10:53 EDT
Anonymous user
Posted by: Guy Creese
Rating:

I wrote the report you mention, and actually, on pages 48-50, I do discuss former high tech revolutions (electricity, LANs, Netscape), and suggest that there are parallels here. You're correct, this is a disruptive move on Google's part, but at this point I think it's hard to tell how it will play out.

Many analysts think this will be a replay of the Netscape debacle. I'm not so sure (hopefully the folks at Google know their history and won't repeat it). As I note in the report, Google has done the market a service by waking it up to what's possible. However, with others piling in (Salesforce, Cisco/WebEx, Microsoft, startups to be named), I'm not convinced that Google will ultimately win.

Start a Conversation
Click to post

Got something to say? We want to hear it! Click the Post button to get started. GO»

EXPERT ADVICE
See our roster of experts.

Advice & Opinion from more than 108 of IT's most insightful thinkers.

  PARTNERS       WEBCASTS    
 

Preparing for the Next Cyber Attack

Ensure you are up-to-speed on the latest security technologies available to keep your network safe in this Executive Guide. Get a thorough assessment of the corporate security threat landscape. Protect your network with data leakage protection, NAC and other technologies explained in this report.

Sponsored by Qwest  Read this Executive Guide »

 

Cloud Building: 8 Ingredients for Internal Clouds

Cloud computing: a fundamentally new way to deploy IT services and functions cost-effectively and quickly. Learn how the VMware vCloud initiative dramatically improves how consumers access their information and experience applications as well as the 8 ingredients to get you going.

Sponsored by VMWare  Read this White Paper »

 

Investing in Business Analytics Technology

You're thinking now is the time to take the plunge into business analytics, but you still have some unanswered questions. This research summary addresses the most common questions and concerns surrounding the successful launch of a business analytics initiative. It also includes real-world examples of organizations already getting return on their investment.

Sponsored by SAS  Read this White Paper »

Resource Alerts

Get instant email notifications by topic when white papers, webcasts, and case studies are added to our library.

Resource Alerts

Get instant email notification when white papers, webcasts, and case studies are added to our library. Don't just be up-to-date—be up to the minute with our new Resource Alerts.

Improving Transparency and Accuracy in IT Cross Charging

During this Webcast you'll learn how KBC Group implemented SAP BusinessObjects Profitability and Cost Management and realized many benefits.   View Now »

 

Cost Savings and Risk Reduction with Effective Systems Management

Join us and see how Novell can help you respond to today's economic challenges by increasing productivity, reducing costs and aligning IT initiatives with overall business goals.  View Now »

 

Capitalize on Your SAP Content

Learn ways to improve your content management by viewing these Open Text webinars today.  View Now »

Resource Alerts

Get instant email notification when white papers, webcasts, and case studies are added to our library. Don't just be up-to-date—be up to the minute with our new Resource Alerts.

 
NEWSLETTER

Sign-up for the Blogs & Discussion Newsletter

 
FEATURED SPONSORS
 
 
 
SPONSORED LINKS
 

Introducing the new HP ProLiant G6 server family

Accenture: Outsourcing for Competitive Advantage. More...

Better spam protection with Postini for just $1/user/mo

Introducing the new HP ProLiant G6 server family

infoBOOM! - The Mid-Sized Company CIO's Exclusive Community

Accenture IT Consulting: Logical meets technological. More . . .

The Fraudster Economy Model: Operating a Business in the Underground

Trade in your old laser printer and get up to $1000 back!

Taking the Service Desk to the Next Level

Revolutionizing Enterprise Application Deployment

Why Data Loss is Increasing--and What You Can Do About It

Data Loss Prevention: A Better Way to Approach Security

Learn how to managing client systems in the enterprise.

Build a High-Performance Open Web Platform

Mid-Sized Company CIO Community: infoBOOM!

Enterprise PBX Comparison Guide

Getting Value from Outdated Networking Equipment

Losing Ground: 2009 TMT Global Security Survey

Stop Application Fraud at the Source with Device Reputation

Learn about the VMware vSphere (TM) & Intel (R) Xeon (R) Processor 5500 Series

Learn how a virtualized enterprise can help your company reduce costs

Why Isn't Server Virtualization Saving Us More?

Learn how to save 30% through project & portfolio management.

How Open Source is Changing the Face of Enterprise Software

8 Key Ingredients to Building an Internal Cloud

Accenture IT Consulting: Enabling high performance. More...

Top Five CIO Challenges

Insight makes it easy to spend your Microsoft subsidy check.

Five minute business analytics assessment. Immediate results.

Dangerous Collaboration Practices: 5 Ways IT Can Minimize Risk

Accenture: Outsourcing for uncertain times. Click to learn more.

The Case for Investing in Business Analytics Technology. Read white paper.

Live Webinar: Applying Business Analytics. Click here to learn more

Seven Ways ITIL Can Help You in an Economic Downturn

Developing A Dynamic, Real-Time IT Infrastructure

Maximizing the Business Value of the PC Infrastructure

Communications and Collaboration Needs at Business Organizations

Using Open Source to Deploy Web Applications

Cloud Computing: Read about VMware's compelling vision & set of products

Enterprise PBX Buyer's Guide

Secondary Market Primer: Your Network at Half Price

How Interactive Viewer Reduces the Effort to Meet Visualization Requirements

Top-line Performance that's Bottom-line Efficient

White Paper: 8 Key Ingredients to Building an Internal Cloud

Read about virtualization and consolidation effort best practices

Building the Virtualized Enterprise with VMware Infrastructure

The Global Marketplace Today: Strategies for Tough Times

Top 10 Business and IT Drivers for the Wealth Management Sector

5 Steps to Automating Accounts Payable

Bottom-Line Benefits of Virtualization