Certainly can’t convince most customers to rip and replace Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) Office. Instead, Google is finding ways to co-exist with Office when necessary. The latest example: Google QuickOffice for iPad, iPhone and Android devices — which allows Google Apps for Business users to edit Microsoft Office files. For Google Apps resellers, QuickOffice could be the ultimate Trojan Horse. Here’s why.
Think if it this way: Google Apps is already gaining momentum in some corporate departments as an alternative to Microsoft Exchange. But even Google concedes, “Not everyone you work with has gone Google yet. So to help, Google Apps for Business can already edit Microsoft Office files using Quickoffice on an iPad, and starting today they can do the same on iPhone and Android devices.”
In the age of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) and cloud services, Quickoffice sounds downright compelling — assuming it works as advertised. Google Apps has a growing ecosystem of channel partners. You can bet Quickoffice is part of their tool box going forward.
Still, don’t count out Microsoft. Although some businesses are going Google, plenty remain loyal to Office. Last quarter, Microsoft tripled the number of Office 365 paid seats year over year, according to Corporate VP Frank Shaw.
But if Microsoft and Google are both winning the cloud apps war — who is losing?
