Google Apps isn't as cheap as it seems, warns Microsoft in a new white paper.
The companies have been in a bitter war lately as Google Apps encroaches on Microsoft's strong position in business software. Last month, the two had a nasty back and forth regarding a government security certification for Google Apps, and both of them have customers who are willing to slam the other's products on the record.
Now, Microsoft is taking a page out of its decade-long campaign against Linux and focusing on the actual cost of Google Apps, which is higher than the advertised cost. (This is true for any IT solution.)
Google charges $50 per user per year for apps to companies with more than 10 employees (it used to be 50 employees). But as Microsoft points out, there are other costs as well:
- Mobile user support. Google offers a free tool to sync Google Apps contact data with mobile devices, but it's still in beta and Microsoft claims it has 'many limitations.' There are better third-party solutions, but they cost money -- like CompanionLink for Google ($40 per user). Plus, to support more than 500 BlackBerry users requires a product like ExchangeMyMail ($120 per user per year).
- Exchange migration. To bulk-migrate Exchange email accounts to Google Apps, you need a tool like the Exchange To Google Apps Migrator, which sells in the Google Apps Marketplace for $20 per user. Microsoft also points out that migrating information like contacts and distribution lists isn't easy and requires IT effort.
- Directory sync. Google does not yet have all the features of Microsoft's Active Directory, so additional apps are needed to provide single sign-on (one such app, MyOneLogin, costs $36 per user per year) and shared contacts management (like Promero gPanel Premier, which is $8 per user per year).
- Support. Google Apps offers a basic level of support, but to get live help and remote desktop assistance costs a $30 per user one-time fee plus $360 per user per year. (Although Microsoft has plenty of paid support options as well which aren't included in its list software prices.)
- Security and archiving. Advanced email eatures like archiving and anti-malware are provided by Google Postini, which costs an additional $33 per user per year. Microsoft also notes that some features like rights protection (so recipients can't copy the text of emails without permission) and encryption are not supported at all.
Microsoft also points out that long-time Office users will have to be retrained on Google Apps, especially because some features aren't supported.
Google would rightly point out that Microsoft software has a lot of hidden costs as well -- recently, a Microsoft exec admitted that it takes $6 of extra spending for every $1 of Microsoft software to get it to work right.
Still, the paper is a good reminder that the advertised price of an IT solution isn't always the whole story.
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