I saw that Google had mistakenly removed their free version of google apps the other day via @smneedham:

http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/07/07/what-the-hell-happened-to-the-free-version-of-google-apps/?awesm=tcrn.ch_5IM&utm_campaign=techcrunch&utm_content=techcrunch-autopost&utm_medium=tcrn.ch-twitter&utm_source=direct-tcrn.ch

and then saw the announcement of the google chrome OS via @desbothma http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/introducing-google-chrome-os.html

and wondered whether this isn’t a case of them slipping up and showing their strategy cards a little early?

Bear with me for a minute here:

- Google creates a web biased operating system that is bundled with new netbooks, allowing absolutely no option to install any currently available desktop apps like the office suite.

- Users are forced to make use of the new, recently developed applications by the open source community

OR

- Users make use of the already developed and refined apps that Google themselves have developed.

- Then google starts charging for using all versions of Google Apps.

Bam, there you have the perfect Network effect, closing the loop around the unknowing consumer that is now forced into using the google apps.

The announcement also says:

“They want their data to be accessible to them wherever they are and not have to worry about losing their computer or forgetting to back up files.”

This may work in more developed countries where bandwidth costs are not a concern, but here in Africa it will cost you an arm and a leg to do your day to day spreadsheets and or word docs, so it will be interesting to see what their plan is for this side of the atlantic.

Google has replaced the link to the free version of Google Apps, but it will remain to be seen how far into the future that will last.

I saw that Google had mistakenly removed their free version of google apps the other day via @smneedham:

(what-the-hell-happened-to-the-free-version-of-google-apps)

and then saw the announcement of the google chrome OS via @desbothma ( introducing-google-chrome-os)

and wondered whether this isn’t a case of them slipping up and showing their strategy cards a little early?

Bear with me for a minute here:

- Google creates a web biased operating system that is bundled with new netbooks, allowing absolutely no option to install any currently available desktop apps like the office suite.

- Users are forced to make use of the new, recently developed applications by the open source community

OR

- Users make use of the already developed and refined apps that Google themselves have developed.

- Then google starts charging for using all versions of Google Apps.

Bam, there you have the perfect Network effect, closing the loop around the unknowing consumer that is now forced into using the google apps.

This may be a little off topic, but the announcement also says:

“They want their data to be accessible to them wherever they are and not have to worry about losing their computer or forgetting to back up files.”

This may work in more developed countries where bandwidth costs are not a concern, but here in Africa it will cost you an arm and a leg to do your day to day spreadsheets and or word docs, so it will be interesting to see what their plan is for this side of the atlantic.

Google has replaced the link to the free version of Google Apps, but it will remain to be seen how far into the future that will last.