A high percentage (97 to 98% don’t know exact figure) of Google’s revenue still comes from search related ads like (ad sense etc).

Other players in the market e.g. Microsoft and Yahoo are already trying to snatch a piece of the ad revenue from Google in a very aggressive way. The recent alliance of Microsoft and Facebook case and point.

It is very obvious Google is trying to diversify, using its success in the search space as leverage.

The most recent attempt by Google to diversify and have a shot at Microsoft at the same time has been the launch of Office applications as a hosted service.

A lot of pundits on the web have already commented that many in the past have tried and failed miserably when trying to take on Microsoft’s office suit.

An office application as a service is a good idea for small to medium businesses.

No need to worry about upgrades, backup, disaster recovery, setting up networks etc.

If one is going to use Google hosted apps in their business, they must ask themselves a few questions before they dive in.

Once you are tied into Google apps, can you opt out? I.E can you download all your documents and start using them in MS Word.

Similarly can I upload all my existing documents and load them into Google apps and will all my links and other embedded objects, macros etc work.

Portability is the question here.

Google may slowly tighten the screws forced by shareholder pressure and increase the price of hosted apps; at this point can you opt out.

You might be in so deep that you may be forced to pay the increase, rather than move to another provider. At least with desktop apps you can choose not to upgrade for a while.

If your internet connection is down will your business still is able to function if you are so reliant on hosted apps.

In a medium to large scale business can you afford to have two version of Word, Excel etc since the hosted app may not satisfy everyone’s needs.

This then leads to the issue of training and support.

Do you train some of your staff in Google apps and some in Microsoft apps.

Does the support desk staff get trained in answering Google apps queries or Ms Office apps queries.

Email as a hosted app works well since there is a standard mail protocol underneath it all.

If there was a standard protocol for Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc now that would be something.

The thing is MS Office suite like it or not has become the de facto standard.

Imagine scenario where a company which uses Google apps sends a Google word app document to another company to modify which does not use Google apps, how will this work.

I am not affiliated with either Microsoft or Google in any way.

Leí el día de hoy en GigaOM que las acciones de Google alcanzaron el precio record de 600.00 dólares por acción el día de hoy capitalizando el valor de la empresa en 188,100 millones de dólares.
Om Malik dice que podrías comprar por esa cantida…

Shares of Google (GOOG) gained $15.57 yesterday to close at $609.62 a share, its first close above $600 per share.

Good point… i was just having a little fun. i kinda know the difference but man, $188 billion is one big number. for a market cap and what not. i am impressed how far this baby has run… and it doesn’t seem to be stopping.

Lots of business magazines get this wrong as well, with ridiculous statements like ExxonMobil is bigger than all but 16 countries. That equates GDP with annual revenues, which is also a canard.