Google Apps vs Exchange
Google Apps vs Exchange (or hosted Exchange). After reading the big news today, it made me wonder:
Which is better - Google Apps or MS Exchange Server 2007?
I currently pay Mailstreet, a hosted Exchange Provider over $25 per mailbox per month. I get Wireless Access, Outlook Web Access, and SPAM/AV Filtering. However, that’s less than 500MB of disk space per account for $25 per month. Exchange is over-priced.
So, let’s see if I am giving up anything by switching from Hosted MS Exchange to Google Apps…
Google Apps Pros:
MS Exchange Pros:
Verdict:
While it’s quite a compelling offering, I’m still missing some important pieces. The most important pieces (in my opinion):
- Calendar, Contacts, and Tasks Sync. Currently you can buy a Calendar Sync. as a 3rd party add-on, but when will all this be standard?
- Google Apps offers mobile and even Blackberry access, so for me, their are only 2 major reasons left to have Exchange. Hopefully Google will address these.
What’s more, it looks like Google has addressed all the major Enterprise concerns in this funny Press Release by a Hosted Exchange Provider.
Post a comment, let me know what you think!
on February 23rd, 2007 at 9:02 am
Just to jump in on the pricing issue - other places can give you similar quality service, for less then the price you stated here. We offer Exchange Hosting with 500MB plans staring at $9.99 per month per user. More info at www.123together.com
on February 24th, 2007 at 4:52 pm
One of these Third Party apps for syncing between Outlook and GCal is called SyncMyCal (http://www.syncmycal.com)… I think its the best one out there for this task…
on February 24th, 2007 at 4:52 pm
Also.. yeah… Google offers quite a compelling alternative to Exchange-Outlook Setup.
on February 26th, 2007 at 5:59 pm
We use Intermedia.net for exchange hosting, and are very happy with it.
on March 3rd, 2007 at 5:58 pm
I think Google Apps would be perfect IF it Sync’d with Outlook.
Thanks for the comments - keep them coming…
on November 29th, 2007 at 3:47 pm
Can I see my mails in google apps from my handset?
on December 19th, 2007 at 11:00 am
I use hosted Exchange from Intermedia with a Blackberry. It is cheap — and Exchange with a BES is still FAR better than anything gmail has.
on February 4th, 2008 at 11:57 am
[…] The decision to switch requires a real investment of trust in the Googleplex. You can read more here. exchange vs. google apps, gmail, googleplex, mail archive, ms […]
on April 4th, 2008 at 10:17 am
we use intermedia as well and love their service. i’m just not sure that google apps is ready to work for real enterprise email.
on April 23rd, 2008 at 9:01 am
I’m using Zimbra (open source product (with commercial support) bought by Yahoo) and it addresses many of the issues you have with Exchange like full Outlook sync as well as Blackberry, Palm, Windows Mobile, and iPhone support. I use a company called 01.com and pay about $7 per month for basic service (1 account, 1 GB storage, no mobile sync). I think you’ll find their rates are much more competitive than Hosted Exchange and they have Zimlets (things like Salesforce.com integration, Contact Collector, Contact Cleaner, etc.). Zimlets are just companion apps that make working easier. Some of them do anyway, others are just useless (for me anyway). I’m moving as much to web based IT items as I can. I now use Linux on my desktop and much of what I do is at customer sites so being able to access everything remotely is a huge plus.