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Google Apps and Android: Cloud Computing and Mobility

Google is at the forefront of advancing technology for small businesses. This month, I want to talk about two of their best products, and how they work together to offer a unified platform for productivity. I'm talking about Google's Android OS and Google Apps. Take a cloud-based communications platform and combine it with one of the hottest smart phones on the market, and you have a recipe for success. What's better than that? How about knowing that the best is yet to come!

Google Apps is a communication platform that offers unified email, calendars, contacts, instant messaging, document storage, and more! For a mobile business, and/or for a business without a central location, Google Apps is a great solution. You're given an online directory for file storage where other employees can view and edit these documents. You can either edit them in MS Office on your PC, or use Google's web-based document editor. Of course, the Google editor is not sophisticated, and some formatting can get lost when translating the document, but Google has continued to improve this technology.

Additionally, you gain the benefit of Google's email interface, along with calendars and contacts that can be shared. You also gain access to Google's instant messaging feature. For a company that is mobile or spread out, this can be a quick and easy way to communicate. Combine all this with the knowledge that you'll never have to buy an upgrade to a newer version, the software is hosted and maintained by Google, and your data is backed up by Google, and you have a solid platform. Moreover, the price is low, and Google boasts 24/7 email and phone support along with 99.9% up time for their services. Extending this is the knowledge that Google now offers the "Apps Marketplace" to extend the functionality. From CRM to accounting, there are tons of apps in the marketplace to help expand the functionality of Google Apps.

Now, let's talk mobility. Google's Android OS was created for mobile devices. Smart phones from HTC, Motorola, and others are using the Android OS to create one of the best mobile experiences on the market. With this smart phone comes an expansive app market, along with the ability to interface with Google Apps. This means all your shared documents, your calendar, your contacts, and your email is with you at all times ( I recommend an app called "ThinkFree" for document viewing via Google Apps.). Additionally, the Samsung Galaxy Tab is powered by Android, giving all this functionality to a true tablet! I can't help but recommend an Android phone over an iPhone if you want a smart phone.

Leveraging this technology can help your business stay nimble while cutting costs. Your overheard is minimal and your support team is Google. With Google Apps and an Android smart phone, you gain a powerful platform at your finger tips. Your entire business is in the palm of your hand!