IBM Takes Battle to The Cloud: Google’s Ground
Can IBM use its reputation to break open a battleground in the cloud that is Google’s empire? This winter has some big fireworks in store for you.
IBM fancies a tough fight against Google in the latter’s favorite hunting ground – the cloud. If IBM email can challenge Google’s email for business is a thing to watch. By the time you read this article, the verdict might already be out.
IBM aims to pose a serious challenge to Google’s uber offer. IBM loves to call their offer iNotes. It costs $1 less per month and comes with less memory capacity. Users might also videos and word processing. Business communication rarely comes with bells and whistles, you see. The offer includes a calendar – in addition to the contact management and email.
What Can Go Into Cloud?
Cost cutting is a sexy and chic term now. Cloud computing promises cost efficient solutions. The main problem with most enterprises is the fear of the unknown. When they see a brand so familiar like IBM or Google, they are likely to jump in to the bandwagon. With email, contact management and calendar it makes a low-risk entry for the businesses too. Once OK, they would use services like billing, sales force management, payroll management and other critical aspects of business as well.
Email Paves the Way
It is easy to get into the cloud computing by using a simple solution to manage email, contacts and calendar. The technology teams of businesses have less headaches to deal with. And, the cost of hosting the email servers reduced to a minimum. The cost is variable according to the number of users. That is the advantage of cloud computing – pay only for what you use.
Does the Cloud Remain an Empire Forever?
Until now, there wasn’t any serious competition in the cloud-space. Maybe, it was as if everyone expected Google to lift every business activity to the cloud. The overconfidence in desktop applications might also be the reason why not many companies has taken the battle to the Google. Meanwhile, Google has successfully seduced many to the cloud. It wooed users of Microsoft Exchange and Lotus Notes.
Some thought desktop computing remains the undisputed champion for several centuries to come. It needed someone to upset the applecart. When the change came, it came like a landslide.
Can Reputation Help IBM Challenge the Emperor?
Now IBM looks to leverage its reputation as the builders of finest business machines to gain some serious ground in the cloud space. Aggression is the only way to go.
Now it is time for iNotes to woo at least some of the users back from Google Apps. Will at least a few dozen enterprises jump boats in favor of IBM? We will get the answer before this winter sets in.
