Google Campaigns against Microsoft

Google has gone back to the basics to attract businesses to their new Google Apps. Billboards used to be dismissed, almost useless to larger companies. But Google is bringing the billboard back! They have selected different billboards around the country, including New York, San Francisco, Chicago, and Boston, to display their new media campaign, “Going Google!”

Every weekday during August, Google’s billboards will display a new phrase or message promoting Google Apps. With sayings like, “Email, shared docs, and team sites? Nice. I want to go Google,” many believe this is a direct dig at Microsoft, like The Wall Street Journal. Meanwhile, Microsoft just struck a deal with Yahoo to combine the two search engines, Yahoo! Search and Bing, to have a legitimate shot at pushing Google out of the top. Google also created a “Join the Movement. Spread the Word. Go Google,” Website to try to stir up some talk about their new Google Apps, directed at business leaders and employees.

Communication, collaboration, and saving money are three advantages of Google Apps named on the Website. The Apps feature a combination of Google products within the workplace to maximize communication and collaboration ease. Email, calendar, and instant messaging apps will be better than before because of message threading and more storage. Collaboration will be made easier with a real-time application available. With all the applications running just on the server, no special software is required.

This may be a great new system for offices everywhere, or maybe just a great marketing scheme, but either way, it’s definitely a huge effort on Google’s part.