Google is making it easier for IT administrators to switch from Microsoft Exchange to Google Apps. The Internet search giant on Wednesday made available a tool to help businesses migrate from Exchange.
The Google Apps Migration for Microsoft Exchange tool will help lure more companies to Google Apps by simplifying the migration of e-mail, contacts and calendars from both cloud-hosted Exchange servers and those hosted at the customer’s location. The tool allows businesses to make the move whether they have a handful or thousands of users.
In July, Google made available a similar tool for companies interested in transferring data from IBM’s Lotus Notes and Domino to Google Apps.
The move comes just a week after Google, together with 50 businesses, announced the Google Apps Marketplace, an online store that enables Google Apps administrators to buy third-party cloud applications and include them in their own domains.
Some of the applications integrate with Google Apps using open protocols, according to the company. By integrating the applications, users are able to share data and collaborate while using Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Contacts.
To make the switch, companies must have Google Apps Premier or Education Edition, Microsoft Exchange 2003/2007, or hosted Microsoft Exchange and administrator access to both Google Apps and Microsoft Exchange. For businesses already using Google’s Standard Edition, Google made a free trial of the Premier edition available.
Cloud services are quickly becoming a core part of the U.S. economy. Corporate IT spending on cloud computing is expected to reach $42 billion by 2012, according to research firm IDC.
If Microsoft plans to tap into that growth, it must first focus on keeping its enterprise customers from migrating from Exchange. The first step must be to begin offering more than just limited cloud-computing services.
Microsoft offers some cloud-computing services via its Business Productivity Online…