Google Vs Microsoft: The Competition Heats Up

The Web search leader, Google is all set to move ahead and challenge the world’s topmost Software brand Microsoft Corp. In a calculative move, Google plans to move beyond its primary task of web search and advertising and foray into the software business.

According to the media report issued on Sunday, Google Inc. has chalked out a plan to offer a range of online services for business users.

Google’s cache of services has been gradually ascending and now with the new addition it plans to offer a package of software that includes e-mail, calendar and chat programs along with a Web site development tool.

Known as ‘Google Apps for Your Domain’ the package is designed to cater to the needs of small and medium-size businesses, which avoid high cost software and cannot afford to shell out huge chunks of money to incorporate such services in their business.

Google Apps can be installed by office workers through their Web browsers. Initially Apps would feature the e-mail services through Gmail Web, the Google Talk instant message and Web phone-calling service, Google Calendar for group scheduling, and Google Page Creator for Web page design.

No cost has to be paid for the software initially, but Google has plans to sell the version that includes additional features as well as technical support from later this year.

Google with its entry into the software business marks a huge challenge to the rival software giant, Microsoft, by launching Google Apps package.

In response to the challenge posed by Google and to protect market presence from being eroded, Microsoft has launched a series of additions to be made to its already existing software’s.

With online Web services, the company is also upgrading its web offerings particularly in search services. Last year, Microsoft announced Office Live, a Web service which aimed at helping businesses collaborate on spreadsheets and word-processing application.

Companies will not be required to maintain or install software on individual PCs, thanks to Google’s host of applications. Dave Girouard, general manager of Google's enterprise division said, "If we do it right, we get the best of both worlds -- very consumer-friendly software, but also low-cost business applications”.

At the end of the day, consumer is likely to be the biggest beneficiary from the battle of supremacy between Microsoft and Google. Potential consumers willing to host business software should ideally pause to be able to choose the better version of the two.