What's Best, Office 365 or Google Apps for Business?

Office 365 is Microsoft's answer to cloud computing. The Office 365 productivity suite offers tools so small, medium and large business can access email, documents, contacts and calendars anywhere anytime. It is NOT a new version of Microsoft Office. It is Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft SharePoint and Microsoft Lync running via the cloud and Microsoft Office 2010 Professional Plus to install on your computers.

Business owners will be able to deploy the latest office software to desktops or online via the cloud. Like all cloud solutions Office 365 is a full browser based solution that incorporates webmail, document management and collaboration solutions. For professionals and small businesses in the UK the Plan P costs £4 per user/per month subscription which allows you and up to 25 employees access your email, important documents, contacts, and calendar from virtually anywhere on almost any device.

Whether Microsoft can take on Google Apps depends on cost, usability and of course security. The race is on to be the leading online cloud provider so who looks set to come out on top? Well both are guaranteed to be with us for the foreseeable future so really time will tell. But looking at the facts this is what I have come up with..

Google Business Apps is more straightforward in terms of set-up and overall management, you just need a Google account. With Microsoft you have to install its Lync software and update your Office installation so it can link up to the cloud. Also you have to create a new account as existing Microsoft live accounts are not allowed, but then this is only done once.

I believe Google has the edge in terms of cross-platform cross-device interoperability, but Microsoft has the edge in terms of functionality. When looking at cost, usability and security, it is hard to pick a clear winner. The best option would be to try both. They both offer a 30-day free trial so anyone can try.

If you want to get started quickly with a cloud provider and don't need features as rich as Microsoft's, Google's option is far more user friendlier. You can use the Google Cloud Connect plug-in for Microsoft Office which lets you collaborate with other Google users within Office.

As for me if I had to choose one I would go with Google. Why? Being a freelancer I find Office 365 too much of a heavy-duty option, I don't like the idea of having to have your own Exchange server to utilise most of the functionality. I don't need a huge amount of functionality and I am happy with the cloud connect for Microsoft office. So for me at this time Google is still king.

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