Software As a Service; What is it's value?

I look at it this way; Software as a service is fundamentally an intangible, and therefore un-measurable product. This will result in low value, from a consumers perspective.

Case in Point:
Last year I bought my Norton Antivirus software on line, or rather my wife did. I was a bit uncomfortable about the purchase, as I was not sure how the whole process would work. Where would the software exist? How would I re-install the software in the event that I had a problem…

This is why Google applications will never truly compete with Microsoft Office.

Where are my files? User’s will never be comfortable unless the files are located in a local place where they can feel like they still have them in their safe closet.

I went back to the ‘Box’ purchase of Norton this year, I just like to have the box and the CD in my basement in case I need to re-install, I still am not sure what I purchased online?

Joseph A. Montione
Founder: GTOpenDatabase L.L.C.
A Solutions Provider

Google's product isn't a client side application you download onto a PC. It's all on the web, which gives it a great advantage in collaboration.

I think Google will compete in this space and at the very minimum it will put pressure on Microsoft to be more customer centric. Everybody feels the pain of their license agreements. They have been alone in the office space for to long without any true competition.

OpenOffice and Google Apps are a GREAT thing!

Personal computer based applications are rapidly loosing ground to web-based applications. One reason is the commoditization of network bandwidth. With home users being provided with bandwidths 1.5 Mbps to 40 Mbps, web-based applications are definitely more appealing. However, Internet providers will have to increase upstream rates and provide more consistent downstream rates to make Google Apps more appealing.

Microsoft has the advantage of Branding with the organization’s Office Suite. However, licensing is a cost factor for many Office Suite users. Open Office has been around for quite some time and is free, but has not caught on with the user community. Information overload has also contributed to the user community’s reluctance to move to other office products. Who wants to learn how a new office suite works when he or she has a project deadline to meet?

Microsoft does acknowledge the growing web-based application market with Office Live. We need to consider if the user community will want an additional office component with Google Apps or an online product that will be easily integrated with current office applications?

Organizational information technology is already stressed trying to meet business requirements. I feel the organizations using Microsoft’s Office Suite will opt to extend their partnership with the software giant, while new comers and micro-businesses will consider costs first and opt for Google Apps. There is a question of meeting SOX requirements with Google Apps, while Microsoft Office is covered under the organization’s current security schema.

Just a thought.

I belive that google apps never ever compete microsot,if it is happen that will be more pressure on Microsoft to be more customer centric this point

I don't think that a web app will compete with the real thing. simply because what happens if I don't have internet connection? and what about security issues, all my info in hands of strangers? impractical.

Google have the foresight along with companies such as salesforce to adjust to future markets by offering Saas apps/tools. Most companies and domestic users now have the required bandwith to accommodate Saas apps. Collaboration saves time the benefits of sharing information/intelligence is untold. In business Chat technology is fast becoming favoured over voice based sales/support models; again a realtime online service. The savings for small companies in terms of their IT infrastructure could be huge. Each time we log on to webmail, IMS; we are utilising Saas and have been doing so for some time now.Extending this to other apps is a natural progression and one which Microsoft's R&D dept is undoubtedly taking very seriously.

Corporations will have to be careful when they allow their employees to store intellectual property on remote servers. It is one thing to decide to store your own personal information on a remote server. It's another thing altogether to allow employees of a public corporation to do so. The ability to use this conduit to siphon away private, confidential or NPPI data is a risk that corporations must consider before allowing their employees open access to such storage and collaboration services. Google can make a strong case for their own security, but companies give up control of their intellectual property when it is stored offsite. What assurances can a company give their clients that their data isn't being inappropriately shared with others? Google certainly can't make any claims in this area. No firm could. Access controls are never guaranteed, but local control improves the odds that outside access will be prevented or detected, should a breach occur.

I like Google's Apps. It's a way to break engross of MS. IT should base on human.

Google Apps is great but it will be threat for MS.

Thanks,
Brio.
SAP Business One Consultant

For decision making, I believe it all depends on the cost-benefit analysis for individual firms. The decision relies more on the cost to make the switch and less on the threats of security, with the caevat, as technology is emerging so is legistation and controls; albiet it has some catching up.