by CIO Staff

Cloud App Wars: Microsoft vs. Google

Feature
May 05, 2010
Cloud ComputingMicrosoft OfficeOffice Suites

Microsoft is fighting for its future in the battle with archrival Google and others over who will rule productivity apps that run via the Web. Here's a complete guide to the business war, the competing products including Google Docs and Office 2010, the implications for users and IT, and more.

Microsoft Battles Google in Cloud Apps: The Big Picture

cloudappwars

Google Apps Vs. Microsoft Office

Microsoft has long dominated the e-mail, collaboration and office tools market, but Google is launching a strong challenge.Here’s a look at the fight — and why more enterprises are going Google.

Los Angeles Chooses Google Apps Over Microsoft

The City of Los Angeles government is deploying Google Apps to alleviate three problems: a crushing budget deficit, IT staff shortage and widespread dissatisfaction with the current office software system.

Google Apps To Live or Die in LA?

The City of Los Angeles chose Google over Microsoft for e-mail, but an internal letter reveals regrets about “Going Google.”

How to Choose Between Microsoft and Google

Corporate E-Mail in the Cloud: Google Vs. Microsoft

E-mail is the third rail of enterprise IT operations. You can mess up elsewhere, but bring down people’s e-mail and you’ll start getting irate calls literally in seconds.

Microsoft Gets Its Exchange Cloud in Order

Microsoft Corp. has been ramping up its cloud-based Exchange Online offering for its largest customers — even though that may mean cannibalizing its own on-premises Exchange Server installed base.

All About Google Apps

Google Apps: The Basics

Google Apps is a valid and inexpensive alternative to Microsoft Office, but lacks rich functionality. Here’s a look at components, pricing and more.

Google Apps Sync for Outlook Gets Mixed Reviews

Nine months after Google daringly launched a sync tool to link its hosted Apps collaboration and communication suite with arch-rival Microsoft’s Outlook PC software, results have been mixed.

5 Things You Didn’t Know You Could Do With Google Apps

From Gmail keyboard shortcuts to scheduling Google Calendar meetings via SMS, here’s a look at some of Google Apps’ coolest hidden features. There’s even a solution to the age old question: “Was that meeting time PST or EST?”

Hands-On Review: Google Docs

The new version of Google Docs sports considerable collaboration tools, as well as improved editing and formatting, a faster, more useful spreadsheet and new collaborative drawing software.

All About Microsoft Office Cloud Apps, Exchange and Sharepoint

Q&A: Inside Microsoft’s Cloud Model for Productivity Apps

Corporate VP of Microsoft Online Services Ron Markezich discusses the joys and pitfalls of productivity apps in the cloud, how to mix your own data center with Microsoft’s cloud model, and the rising tide of BPOS competitors. Hint: It’s not just Google.

SharePoint Bible: A Complete Guide

From pricing questions to enterprise and cloud adoption trends to previews of the upcoming SharePoint 2010, CIO.com’s SharePoint Bible covers it all. Our guide delivers expert reviews, advice on planning and rollout, and news analysis on Microsoft’s powerhouse content and collaboration platform.

Microsoft SharePoint: Enterprises Get Boost by Integrating Social Tools

More enterprises are seeing the benefits of layering social networking tools into SharePoint. How can you customize SharePoint and make it more social? Two large organizations share tales from the trenches.

Hands-On Review: Microsoft Office 2010

More enterprises are seeing the benefits of layering social networking tools into SharePoint. How can you customize SharePoint and make it more social? Two large organizations share tales from the trenches.

Office 2010: Pros and Cons for Businesses

Office 2010 has handy new features for businesses and is more Web-friendly, but will come with a potentially clunky merging of new technologies and upgrade headaches. Is it worth it?

Exchange 2010: To Migrate or to Stay Put

What’s driving corporate adoption of Microsoft Exchange 2010 and what’s preventing it? A new survey sheds some light on why IT departments are voting yes or no for Microsoft’s newest e-mail behemoth.