More than a year ago, Zoho let users access Zoho applications through their Google and Yahoo IDs and passwords.
Zoho today put another plank in its bridge to Google users by enabling users to log in to Zoho with their Google Apps domain credentials.
Read more about how this move is simultaneously an olive branch to part-time rival Google and a slap to the face of full-time rival Salesforce.com on eWEEK here. Here’s a walk-through of how it works.
Log in to use any Zoho App and you’ll see a new “Google Apps” option in the sign-in box. If you are also a Google Apps user, choose this option to sign in to Zoho. On the left is the button. Click on it and you’ll get the log-in screen on the right:
When you enter your Google Apps domain name, you’ll see a redirect to Google to sign in using your Google Apps credentials. Authorize accounts.zoho.com, and you’ll be logged in to Zoho:
However, if you’re a first-time Zoho user coming from Google Apps, you’ll have to choose a username. This prompt will appear the first time you log in.
As I wrote on eWEEK, this is Zoho’s latest play to disrupt Salesforce.com’s customer by offering Google Apps users another option for business apps in the cloud.