Comments on: Google Apps: Saving Schools Big Money?

By: Joe Panettieri

Joe Panettieri — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 20:00:07 +0000

Blah,

Thanks for the note. I disagree a bit with your point, though. I don’t think you can line up Google Apps and Office 365 and make a universal statement that “Office is the better deal right now.” For some customers, Office 365 may a great fit. For others, Google Apps. And yes, we certainly keep our eyes on Zoho as well. They are a very interesting play. Thanks again for reading.
-jp

By: blah

blah — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 19:32:41 +0000

Zoho is the other option btw

http://www.infoworld.com/d/cloud-computing/office-365-vs-google-apps-the-infoworld-review-447

By: blah

blah — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 19:31:27 +0000

Go look at the nightmare Google gave Los Angles… that was NOT pretty.

You should compare this to Office 365, where you have more options.

Get those two options side by side and Office is the better deal right now.

Office is way better than Google Apps and your staff already knows Office. Apps is getting better and better but it can’t compete with Excel yet.

Price is the same pretty much.

By: Joe Panettieri

Joe Panettieri — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 22:32:02 +0000

Dustin: I like your style. A lot of folks are in denial over SaaS. I’m not suggesting all readers have to embrace SaaS. But MSPs need to at least have informed answers when customers ask about on premises vs. SaaS options…

Please keep us posted as you make more SaaS moves.
-jp

By: Dustin Thompson

Dustin Thompson — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 22:05:36 +0000

Joe: For MSP’s I think some of your previous articles point out how Google Apps or other SaaS solutions can be used as a foot in the door. I think most MSP’s would agree that SaaS is going to play a role in their business in the future. Starting with a product like Google Apps gives your customers the idea of SaaS in terms of functionality and costs. From there the MSP can start getting control of other systems either traditional on-premise or conversion to SaaS. Either way I see Google Apps as a great way to prove my company’s abilities and show my customers how I can benefit their business. The first sale is Google Apps, next thing you know they call me wondering about how they can use an Amazon EC2 Service or hosted CRM.

By: Joe Panettieri

Joe Panettieri — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 20:01:45 +0000

Dustin: I agree fully. Schools have to consider the Google Apps option. But for MSPmentor readers, we’ll always try to work in the partner angle. The key questions: Are there really MSP opportunities here? Or is Google Apps a direct play in the education vertical?
-jp

By: Dustin Thompson

Dustin Thompson — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 19:56:49 +0000

If you are a decision maker at a school you almost have to consider Google Apps. With the licensing being free and state and local budgets getting smaller to fund education these institutions need to look for ways to provide the needed technology at a lower cost.
When a school admin has a decision between keeping their existing solution or going Google and not creating a better learning environment through more teachers, better facilities, etc what should they chose?