Comments on: Will Google Enter the Business Applications Market? http://www.zoliblog.com/2007/12/13/will-google-enter-the-business-applications-market/ Connecting the dots ... Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:03:39 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: George Skatilas http://www.zoliblog.com/2007/12/13/will-google-enter-the-business-applications-market/#comment-7914 George Skatilas Sun, 30 Dec 2007 19:51:42 +0000 http://www.zoliblog.com/2007/12/13/will-google-enter-the-business-applications-market/#comment-7914 All this CRM talk, and of course with Netsuite (N) finally going through with the IPO, does anyone know when stock options will be avail for public trade so the fun can really begin? All this CRM talk, and of course with Netsuite (N) finally going through with the IPO, does anyone know when stock options will be avail for public trade so the fun can really begin?

]]> By: Zoli Erdos http://www.zoliblog.com/2007/12/13/will-google-enter-the-business-applications-market/#comment-7651 Zoli Erdos Fri, 14 Dec 2007 03:30:24 +0000 http://www.zoliblog.com/2007/12/13/will-google-enter-the-business-applications-market/#comment-7651 That said, the Goog should go way beyond the functionality set Freshbooks can offer... That said, the Goog should go way beyond the functionality set Freshbooks can offer…

]]> By: Zoli Erdos http://www.zoliblog.com/2007/12/13/will-google-enter-the-business-applications-market/#comment-7650 Zoli Erdos Fri, 14 Dec 2007 03:20:20 +0000 http://www.zoliblog.com/2007/12/13/will-google-enter-the-business-applications-market/#comment-7650 <p> Oh, Freshbooks is great! </p> <p>Other than the primary functionality they offer, I called them out for <a href="http://www.zoliblog.com/2007/04/16/freshbooks-launches-benchmarking-service-saas-will-never-be-the-same/" rel="nofollow">unveiling the hidden business model in Saas</a>: offering additonal services based on the use of aggregate data. </p> Come think of it, that's what Google is all about, too! :-) Oh, Freshbooks is great!

Other than the primary functionality they offer, I called them out for unveiling the hidden business model in Saas: offering additonal services based on the use of aggregate data.

Come think of it, that’s what Google is all about, too! :-)

]]> By: rod / techwatching.com http://www.zoliblog.com/2007/12/13/will-google-enter-the-business-applications-market/#comment-7648 rod / techwatching.com Fri, 14 Dec 2007 02:10:44 +0000 http://www.zoliblog.com/2007/12/13/will-google-enter-the-business-applications-market/#comment-7648 I think I agree with both Zoli's! SMB is where Google has historically shown that it wants to be, and snapping up an incumbent is (IMHO) the best way to get there in the accounting space. Specficially, I have one incumbent in mind: FreshBooks. http://techfold.com/2007/12/13/watch-google-buy-freshbooks/ "So, when Read/Write Web and Jay Eye Sea suggest that Google has the motivation, resources, and market opportunity to get into online accounting, I say they’re going to pull a Feedburner/YouTube and just buy the best-of-breed that’s out there already. In doing so, they’ll get a great product, and great team, and a revenue stream." I think I agree with both Zoli’s! SMB is where Google has historically shown that it wants to be, and snapping up an incumbent is (IMHO) the best way to get there in the accounting space.

Specficially, I have one incumbent in mind: FreshBooks.
http://techfold.com/2007/12/13/watch-google-buy-freshbooks/

“So, when Read/Write Web and Jay Eye Sea suggest that Google has the motivation, resources, and market opportunity to get into online accounting, I say they’re going to pull a Feedburner/YouTube and just buy the best-of-breed that’s out there already. In doing so, they’ll get a great product, and great team, and a revenue stream.”

]]> By: The Other Zoli http://www.zoliblog.com/2007/12/13/will-google-enter-the-business-applications-market/#comment-7646 The Other Zoli Fri, 14 Dec 2007 01:36:50 +0000 http://www.zoliblog.com/2007/12/13/will-google-enter-the-business-applications-market/#comment-7646 Sure, and I understand that Zoho is targeting the SMB segment, but I wonder if the Google brand just means something different for that market. Google even has a hard time getting into other consumer/retail verticals, such as shopping comparison, instant messaging, and even video with its own brand. My gut feeling is that it needs to acquire an incumbent with a heavy brand recognition (as it did with Blogger and YouTube) and make that brand stronger over time. Zoho is somewhere in between, it has strong technology and some brand recognition, but not big enough yet for what Google needs. If it gets there, it can become a fantastic asset for Google and provide an equally fantastic exit for Zoho's shareholders. Not to mention, it would be a nice long term home for the technology. Sure, and I understand that Zoho is targeting the SMB segment, but I wonder if the Google brand just means something different for that market. Google even has a hard time getting into other consumer/retail verticals, such as shopping comparison, instant messaging, and even video with its own brand.

My gut feeling is that it needs to acquire an incumbent with a heavy brand recognition (as it did with Blogger and YouTube) and make that brand stronger over time. Zoho is somewhere in between, it has strong technology and some brand recognition, but not big enough yet for what Google needs. If it gets there, it can become a fantastic asset for Google and provide an equally fantastic exit for Zoho’s shareholders. Not to mention, it would be a nice long term home for the technology.

]]> By: Zoli Erdos http://www.zoliblog.com/2007/12/13/will-google-enter-the-business-applications-market/#comment-7642 Zoli Erdos Thu, 13 Dec 2007 23:46:45 +0000 http://www.zoliblog.com/2007/12/13/will-google-enter-the-business-applications-market/#comment-7642 I *almost* agree, re. lack of credibility on the business market, with the exception that the "low end" of the SMB market (which is huge) is rather similar, perhaps more similar to the consumer market than the "business" market. Which is why I think it's a better entry point for Google than the "enterprise". I *almost* agree, re. lack of credibility on the business market, with the exception that the “low end” of the SMB market (which is huge) is rather similar, perhaps more similar to the consumer market than the “business” market. Which is why I think it’s a better entry point for Google than the “enterprise”.

]]> By: The Other Zoli http://www.zoliblog.com/2007/12/13/will-google-enter-the-business-applications-market/#comment-7640 The Other Zoli Thu, 13 Dec 2007 22:57:44 +0000 http://www.zoliblog.com/2007/12/13/will-google-enter-the-business-applications-market/#comment-7640 Google needs more than just a good product in the business app market, it needs a customer base. It does not yet have credibility in the business market and my guess is it would cost them more to build that credibility than buying an established incumbent. That is why I think a Salesforce acquisition would make sense for them. Zoho may make sense as a technology add-on for Salesforce, though that integration would be interesting... Google needs more than just a good product in the business app market, it needs a customer base. It does not yet have credibility in the business market and my guess is it would cost them more to build that credibility than buying an established incumbent. That is why I think a Salesforce acquisition would make sense for them. Zoho may make sense as a technology add-on for Salesforce, though that integration would be interesting…

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