Google and Microsoft Embrace Cloud Computing

Internet titans Google and Microsoft both recently announced new desktop computing environments. Google came out swinging first, announcing last week that it is developing an operating system (OS) for PCs that is tied to its Chrome Web browser.

Here’s the quick and dirty on Google OS:

• It will run with a Linux kernel as its base.
• It will boot directly into the Chrome Web browser.
• It will be aimed primarily at netbooks.
• It will not be designed to have local storage; all data will be stored in the cloud.
• Google will not entice developers to build software to run on the Chrome OS; instead, they want developers to build Web apps that will run on any standards-based browser.
• The three most important features will be “speed, simplicity and security.”
• Google will release the software to the open source community before the end of 2009.
• Announced Chrome OS hardware partners: Acer, Adobe, ASUS, Freescale, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo, Qualcomm, Texas Instruments and Toshiba.

Google OS is slated to be released online later this year under an open-source license, which would allow outside programmers to modify it. Netbooks running the software will go on sale in the second half of 2010.

Google is a strong proponent of cloud computing, where personal data and applications will be accessed via the Web, which is a direct challenge to Microsoft’s control over the desktop computing environment. However, in a long-awaited move, Microsoft announced today that it too is moving into the cloud.

Microsoft Office 2010 will feature traditional desktop software which now synchs with the cloud, as well as stand-alone Web-based versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Microsoft also plans to offer online file storage, and security and data backup. The company expects a public beta by the end of 2009, and it intends to ship a final version of the software in the first half of 2010.

“Office Web Applications, the online companion to Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote applications, allow you to access documents from anywhere. You can even simultaneously share and work on documents with others online,” Microsoft says on its Office 2010 Technical Preview site. “View documents across PCs, mobile phones, and the Web without compromising document fidelity. Create new documents and do basic editing using the familiar Office interface.”

Network World commented that the “big winner” in the battle for desktop computing might actually be telcos, as future netbook and laptop offerings will come equipped with wireless 3G and 4G capabilities. I tend to agree with the tech mag. Further, cloud computing offerings, especially from established and trusted players in the desktop environment, might encourage consumer adoption of online applications and data storage, driving residential and mobile broadband take rates.

View Google’s blog posting.
Visit Microsoft’s Office 2010 technical preview site.
Read NTCA’s ePaper on cloud computing.

Related posts:

1. NTCA Releases Cloud Computing ePaper
2. VOTW: What is Cloud Computing?
3. Microsoft and Yahoo Join Forces against Google
4. IBM Wants to Help Telcos Offer Cloud Services
5. Google Voice: Big Plans for 2010