Microsoft has been steadily increasing its footprint on all platforms, including iOS and Android. The software company has been delivering software solutions to non-Windows environments, sometimes at the seeming expense of current Windows and Windows Phone customers, evidenced by customer complaints. But, as Microsoft is making successful inroads into competitor landscapes, what are the competitors doing? And, what are they willing to do?
Today, Google has made a tit-for-tat announcement around how it will be expanding its own Google Cloud Platform to include support for Windows.
The Search company has a blog post up that talks about the specifics for each of today's announcements, but here's the short list:
- Microsoft License Mobility for Google Cloud Platform enables our customers to move their existing Microsoft server application software licenses, such as SQL Server, SharePoint, and Exchange Server, from on-premises to Google Cloud Platform without any additional Microsoft software licensing fees.
- Windows Server 2008 R2 is now available to all Google Compute Engine customers in beta allowing them to run some of their key workloads on Google Cloud Platform. Support for Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2 is planned soon.
- Chrome RDP App is available for free to Google Cloud Platform Customers which enables customers using the Chrome browser to create remote desktop sessions to their Windows instances in Google Compute Engine without the need for additional software.
Google is expanding its Windows offerings to show renewed vigor for supporting Enterprises. Many industry pundits and analysts have slammed Google's previous efforts, suggesting that the company just can't seem to get business right. Google recently rebranded its corporate outreach business, giving clues that the company understands that its Cloud offerings can't survive without developing a viable Microsoft Azure alternative. From an Enterprise Cloud perspective, Microsoft has a sizeable lead and is gaining even more ground each day.
Despite the renewed push and the additional support and features, trust is the one piece that Google still has to overcome. Even hardcore Google services customers remain wary of privacy and security in a Google Cloud.
Read the full announcement: Expanded Windows Support on Google Cloud Platform
