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The company's Google Apps collection of productivity software will be the thin end of the wedge Google hopes to drive between corporations and their long-time love of Microsoft Office.

Google Ready To Seduce Corporate World

Throughout the assembly of Google Apps, many have speculated breathlessly that Google would threaten Microsoft's near-eternal dominance of the desktop during the age of the PC.

That theory will take a small step toward reality today, but the fight for corporate desktop share looks like it will start in Europe. The Guardian reported IT consulting giant CapGemini will promote Google Apps to its customers:

"Microsoft is an important partner to us as is IBM," said the head of partnerships at CapGemini's outsourcing business, Richard Payling. "In our client base we have a mix of Microsoft users and Lotus Notes users and we now have our first Google Apps user. But CapGemini is all about freedom, giving clients choice of the most appropriate technology that is going to fit their business environment."

"If you look at the traditional desktop it is very focused on personal productivity," said Robert Whiteside, Google enterprise manager, UK and Ireland. "What Google Apps brings is team productivity."

Google Apps also removes something from those environments: the Microsoft (or IBM/Lotus) "tax" in the form of expensive licensing fees. Participating firms will pay CapGemini the $50 per-person annual license fee, which should be a significant savings over Office upgrades and Microsoft client licenses.

Google won't wipe Microsoft away from the desktop entirely. Microsoft's applications have become too standardized, and Google lacks an integrated calendar within Gmail. Outlook's calendar has always been a bright spot in Microsoft's suite, but not every employee needs it.

Instead, we think Google Apps will find a place on the desktops of cubicle workers rather than the sales and executive types who live and die on Microsoft applications. Imagine removing Office from a hundred cubicles and replacing it with Google.

That's the kind of cost savings that makes corporate accountants salivate into their spreadsheets.