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SaaS: Google Apps Takes on Business
Google has had some false starts in trying to mold its software into something that would be attractive to businesses, especially large businesses. But, they keep trying…
Google has recently done a retake and revamp of its App Engine product, trying to make it more appealing to businesses. App Engine offers users the ability to build and host web applications on Google’s infrastructure. It contains some compelling features:
- full support for common web technologies and dnamic web applications
- persistent storage with queries, sorting and transactions
- automatic scaling and load balancing
- APIs for authenticating users and sending email using Google Accounts
- a local development environment that simulates Google App Engine
- scheduled tasks for triggering events at specified times and regular intervals
Originally Google supported only applications that are written in the Python language. In the most recent Google App upgrade, they now also support the Java language.
One limitation though is that each Google App must run in the protected sandbox area provided by Google. With that requirement comes the limitation that the application can’t write directly to a file on the operating system — instead all presistent data must be saved via the App Engine datastore.
In the recent upgrade, Google also included the Google Secure Data Connector. The Data connector will allow App Engine applications to securely connect into other applications like CRM and business analytics. Connectors are available for software from vendors like Apirio, Cast Iron Systems, IBM, Oracle and Panorama. For example, an App Engine application could communicate and exchange data with Oracle Siebel CRM.
