Google Apps for Education
Michigan universities are among the first to move their entire email system to Google’s free email product Gmail. They are able to maintain their .edu addresses, block ads and provide students with more storage space than existing systems and all with Google managing the technology rather than the university IT department. The move gives Google an interesting opportunity to embed its products and brand with one of its key audiences, college students. Teachers and students will be able to access premium versions of Google’s online word processor and spreadsheet programs, calendar functions and iGoogle’s personal home page.
In 2006/2007, IT spending in UK schools and universities is estimated at £587m. If the US models are successful, Google Apps for Education offers a compelling alternative and a threat to Microsoft, although they too are looking at moving to online delivery and pricing for the education market (and others). In 2005 we reported on Sun’s collaboration with Google via the free productivity suite OpenOffice.org & StarOffice. While this partnership still exists it looks like Google decided to go its own way with Google Apps, rather than rely on Sun and other companies. This makes sense as Google is a far better known consumer brand than Sun or Open Office and is probably almost on a par with Microsoft these days.
Google Apps look an interesting proposition for education, but so will the coming offerings from Microsoft, Yahoo and others. The bottom line for educators and students is that this change may save them money, but Google is just as nakedly commercial as Microsoft and they will make money somewhere out of education – just not by licensing. Selling your information and web browsing habits is an entirely different matter.