Google catching up with Microsoft in online software by Zuzana Zelenakova

In the early March Google launched a new app store for business known as the Google Apps Marketplace. The app store provides a possibility for third-party cloud applications to integrate with Google´s online applications such as Google Gmail, Sites, Calendar and so on. "Tonight, what we're doing is we're announcing a business-to-business marketplace for Google Apps users, where the idea is that we want to help users get more applications for Google Apps from third-party developers," said Chris Vander Mey, Google senior product manager, in an interview on the day of the launch. "As you purchase applications, they're automatically integrated into your domain," Vander M! ey said. For customers it is a great opportunity to access wide variety of applications and for developers it is an opportunity to access great amount of possible customers, in other words it could bring them money. As Google claims it is the easiest thing to get in touch with the apps, only four clicks are required. "We expect [the marketplace is] going to significantly help Google Apps adoption and also help adoption of our partner apps," Vander Mey said. "We're going to bring 25 million users to these partner companies." Google is allowing developers to sell their applications through the Marketplace under more than acceptable conditions. 80 percent of the revenue is theirs while Google keeps 20 percent. In addition, developers pay only one time fee of $100 to get into the program, while for example Apple´s App Store charges $100 a year. With the applications and their constantly growing popularity Google is even challenging computer giant Microsoft and its software! business. Microsoft is making most of its revenue from sellin! g and li censing software. The app store began with 50 vendors, including Altassian, Zoho, Skytap or NetSuite.

related story (sgx17437): http://www.france24.com/en/20100310-google-takes-microsoft-o...

by Zuzana Zelenakova for Cantell TV (http://cantell.tv)

Cantell TV is the fastest growing provider of digital broadcasting coupled with telecommunications, allowing people to easily control, view, upload and share digital content through proprietary interface coupled with free phone calls. Cantell TV is committed to delivering infinite choices to your world of entertainment at the tip of your fingers.