It was interesting to see Microsoft NZ country manager Kevin Ackhurst claiming on Twitter recently that the Rugby Union chose his company's online solution because it had doubts about Google's support capability for its apps suite (he was linking to this
It was interesting to see Microsoft NZ country manager Kevin Ackhurst claiming on Twitter recently that the Rugby Union chose his company’s online solution because it had doubts about Google's support capability for its apps suite (he was linking to this smack-down on a Microsoft blog, guest-written by NZRFU IT manager Jeremy Burrows).
MORE: Office 2010 launches in NZ; hands on with the free online version
Certainly, you’d have to say, God help anyone who tries to reach the search giant on the phone. And as a Google Apps end-user I’ve found its various online support options patchy.
But Google does have local agents, including Fronde - and Microsoft can’t label Fronde a pack of chumps, because the company also sells and supports Microsoft’s cloud solution, Azure (and, for good measure, Amazon’s).
And, in fact, shortly after the Microsoft boss’s comment, Fronde arranged a briefing with journalists, which is coming up later this month.
The shindig will star Google APAC brass, and NZ Post GM Tracy Voice - who, going by her previous comments, will stand by her organisation’s decision to move its thousands of users to Google Apps. Ms Voice is an articulate advocate, and NZ Post remains well-regarded for its efficiency - so this is one case study to give Microsoft chills.
But at the same time, it’s going to be interesting to get the NZ Post exec’s view on Office Web Apps. At the time of her organisation’s transition to Google Apps, a year back, the NZ Post exec simply wasn’t willing to wait for Microsoft to get its online act together.
Also on the bill: Colin Meads, who will talk about the World Cup, and team work.
I’m not sure how much Pinetree knows about software-as-a-service but, of course, Fronde may be having a little chuckle to themselves that at least one person in the Rugby Union's orbit turning out for Google.
