Om Malik posts today that search giant Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) has inked a deal with satellite Internet provider Wildblue that would essentially white-label Google's Gmail, Gcal, Gtalk. It would seem that a deal to provide Google Docs would be next in the works.It's taking time for users and companies to adopt Google's hosted office suite. Users have been slow to move away from Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) Office. I've been positive on Google's -- and Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL)'s -- move into productivity software.
I think this slow growth is part of a typical technology diffusion curve. Cutting white-label deals will speed up adoption for users, and as I've written previously, Google will eventually penetrate the work environment with Docs by first penetrating the home environment. ISP deals work toward this end. Microsoft made a huge Office business by getting businesses to adopt their suite, thereby requiring individuals to adopt the same platform.
Google just plods forward, learning and innovating as it goes.
Zack Miller is the Managing Editor of IsraelNewsletter.com and a former equity analyst for a leading multinational hedge fund. Author owns a long-term position in GOOG.
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