Google Gives Office a Web 2.0 Spin

Against the backdrop of the YouTube drama, Google on Thursday launched an enhanced version of its hosted business applications suite in what can only be called true Web 2.0 style.Dubbed Google Apps, the suite launched as a free service in August 2006. It includes Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Talk, and a Start Page feature for creating a customizable home page on a specific domain.

The new version, called Google Apps Premier Edition, isn’t free. The search giant is charging $50 per user account, per year for the communication and collaboration software. That fee buys users phone support, additional storage, and a new set of administration and business integration capabilities.

Google Apps Standard Edition and Google Apps Education Edition will remain free, supported by advertising. Dave Girouard, vice president and general manager at Google Enterprise, promised business users the ability to use the new Premier Edition suite at a “fraction of the cost” of installed software.

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Add comment February 23rd, 2007

Microsoft Launches Vista Migration Tools

In a move to ease business migration to its latest operating system, Microsoft released six new Vista deployment tools on Tuesday. But at least one analyst believes the tools might actually lead to businesses delaying deployment.The tools consist of the Solution Accelerator for Business Desktop Deployment (BDD) 2007, the Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit 5.0, the Windows Vista Hardware Assessment application, the Volume Activation Management tool, and the Key Management Service for Windows Server 2003 and Virtual PC 2007.

Altogether, the tools aim to help customers at every phase of the migration process, from assessment and planning to testing and deployment.

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Add comment February 23rd, 2007