Google’s pulled the “beta” label of its cloud based apps early this week and on Tuesday said Chrome would be its operating system for netbooks.
Ace blogger and former PCWeek colleague Dave Churbuck posted a concise piece on the announcement here that deserves a read.
I agree with Dave completely: Google’s moves could be the first wedge that topples the Wintel hegemony. I do, however, have a couple of lingering questions:
+ Is Google willing to say its personal productivity software is compatible with corporate applications (which could prevent third-party consultancies and in house IT analysts from recommending a switch to Chrome and Goog apps
+ Will Goog’s apps, including associated cloud storage always be free?
+ What netbook makers will ally themselves with Google from the outset?
+ What corporations are willing to ally themselves and depend on or believe that Goog can offer continuous access to all its apps.
+ Will the Clearwire/Comcast/Sprint HighSpeed2go partnership and other wireless data networks or netbook makers pair up or endorse the Google platform?
Looking at this announcement it’s hard not to imagine a bony, desiccated, hand emerging from the moldy compost around Redmond holding a billboard proclaiming “Don’t forget Windows 7, it’s compatible with corporate standards.”
I’d love to be working reporter right now.
One of the first companies I’d call for insight and a reaction is SalesForce.com, since its very life is tied to two critical components in the netbook future; persistent connectivity, and near pure cloud-based computing. Another company that could get a pleasant bump with this announcement is industry pioneer Intuit, whose small business software has a big share of the SMB market.
Google as an operating system vendor going against Microsoft with a persistent computing, cloud-based strategy?
Be still my beating heart.--Jim Forbes 07/08/2007
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