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Google, Salesforce.com vs. Microsoft Headlines Cloud Computing Battle for 2009
By: Clint Boulton
2008-12-22
Article Rating:    / 13
There are 7 user comments on this Cloud Computing story.
Google, Salesforce.com vs. Microsoft Headlines Cloud Computing Battle for 2009 (
Page 1 of 2 ) SAAS integrator and consulting services firm Appirio has some strong opinions about the way cloud computing will evolve in 2009. In short, it sees open clouds from Salesforce.com and Google duking it out with Microsoft's Windows Azure and Microsoft Online Services. Appirio sees big things for the cloud, from enterprise applications and business intelligence to enterprise social networks. What do you see for the cloud in 2009?Opinion: This time of year brings the usual glut of high-tech prognostications from research firms all over the
world.
Invariably, there is one category that stands out during the waning year that
is expected to continue to bloom in the next year. With all apologies to Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, this year's prize goes to cloud
computing, comprising infrastructure software hosted on the Internet and
applications delivered as SAAS (software as a service).
Research firms tend to render their educated guesswork in generalities, staying
away from naming specific vendors, acquisitions or other moves.
Fortunately, SAAS service firm Appirio, which does useful things such as synchronize cloud platforms from
Salesforce.com and Google, gets a little more candid in its top 10
predictions for the evolution of cloud computing in 2009. These conclusions are
"loosely based on what Appirio is hearing and seeing first hand from
industry insiders around the globefrom a base of over 2,000 customers,
partnerships with leaders in this space, and conversations with industry
influencers."
Disclaimer: Appirio is biased toward partners Google and Salesforce.com, so
take the criticisms of Microsoft's forthcoming Windows Azure platform as
lightly as you like in the absence of Microsoft's finished product yet. Here
is the list, supported by my own feeling about each talking point.
1) Appirio said that while "Microsoft and other traditional
software players invest even more in new but closed cloud platforms,"
proponents of a more open approach, like Amazon, Facebook, Google and
Salesforce, will push more and deeper "cloud connections." This will
create a more heated debate between the value of closed versus federated
platforms.
My take: This is undoubtedly true. We've seen this already, with Google
and Salesforce.com creating integrations between Force.com and Google Apps and Google App Engine, and Zoho integrating Google App Engine. These are buds of a cloud
computing platform that Microsoft Windows Azure will be geared toward the Windows
development community.
2) Appirio says Windows Azure will see limited adoption from ISVs and
customers, disappointing users and remaining well behind established cloud
players until 2010. Even then, it will serve "primarily as a better
foundation for Microsoft Exchange and existing on-premises .NET
applications."
My take: Correction: I originally assumed that Appirio, like
Google and so many other SAAS vendors, believes Microsoft "doesn't
get" the cloud. Appirio quickly corrected me on this score, noting that it
believes Microsoft will struggle with Azure because it already has an
entrenched on-premises software business. This will make it hard for Microsoft
to serve both SAAS and traditional customers without cannibalizing its own
revenues. I respectfully disagree. That's SAAS bias talking if I ever heard it
and not necessarily true. Then again, the task before Microsoft is
unprecedented in the era of Web-driven software. I do know that if Microsoft
fails to impress the Windows developers, it will severely damage the company. Microsoft can't afford this kind of failure, so I expect Azure
to wow folks and offer flexible, competitive pricing to challenge Google,
Salesforce.com and Amazon Web Services. Microsoft's SAAS will complement
its on-premises apps until customers are ready to move entirely into the cloud.
When will that be? If I knew that ... well, I'd be in the predictions market.
3) Enterprises flock to Google Apps because Google will boost its
security, transparency and development languages for businesses. "We expect
to see at least three times the number of enterprises evaluating and moving to
Google Apps, at the direct expense of Microsoft Exchange, Office and Lotus
Notes," Appirio claims.
My take: Eh. That's what I believed would be the case for 2008 after a
promising 2007 saw the launch of Google Apps Premier Edition, the acquisition of Postini, and the
signing of big contracts such as CapGemini. While hundreds of thousands of businesses are
paying for Google Apps, the big contracts are either elusive or top secret. While innovation in Gmail on Google Apps has been superb,
enterprise momentum has cooled, in my humble opinion. There is little to no buzz
around GAPE among enterprises the way there was in 2007. With Microsoft Online
Services coming on strong in the latter half of 2008, I agree with Appirio that
Google could double down on the enterprise in 2009, telling customers Microsoft
just doesn't get SAAS and the cloud. Will this include acquisitions? It could,
provided they come at a recessionary bargain.
4) A major SAAS 1.0 company will fail. Although SAAS and cloud
investments will increase next year, a number of SAAS 1.0 companiesstand-alone
companies who built their SAAS products from scratch on their ownwill falter.
Appirio says Salesforce.com's momentum with its Force.com platform will suck
the life out of rivals.
My take: Presumably, Appirio means SugarCRM or NetSuite. Funny though.
Other than Salesforce.com, I don't see a major SAAS 1.0 company, do you? In any
case, 2009 is bound to be rough for a lot of vendors, on-premises or SAAS
focused. That Salesforce.com could play anaconda to a smaller SAAS 1.0 mammal
wouldn't shock me. The question: Which mammal will it be?
| | Reader Comments: Google, Salesforce.com Vs. Microsoft Headlines Cloud Computing Battle For 2009 | | >>> Post your comment now!
| | Senor, the cloud!We need to separate hopes from predictions. Of course Appirio wants to see many of these predictions come true, but many are self-serving. Here are... Posted At: 12-24-08 By: Doug in Seattle | | | | | | The future is here and it's VCSY!Microsoft is only now able to compete because they settled with VCSY by way of a CONFIDENTIAL settlement agreement. Confidential meaning, don't let... Posted At: 12-23-08 By: kantuc | | | | | | SaaS love for ITHow about some SaaS love for the IT pros? For good reason, the SaaS discussion is usually about SaaS for sales, HR, accounting, productivity apps,... Posted At: 12-23-08 By: Rhett Glauser | | | | | | More on why Azure will disappointThanks for the correction, Clint-- we elaborated tonight on our blog about our prediction that Azure will disappoint in 2009:... Posted At: 12-23-08 By: Ryan @ Appirio | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ThanksClint, thanks for your thoughtful commentary on our predictions.
A clarification on Azure. Our thought is here not that Microsoft doesn't get the... Posted At: 12-22-08 By: Nara | | | | | | >>> Post your comment now! | | | | | |
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