Google Apps is like a "fog rolling into the harbor," permeating businesses quite possibly at the expense of Microsoft and IBM, Gartner analyst Tom Austin said. Google just isn't doing it by <A HREF="http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Application-Development/Gartner-Google-Doesnt-Understand-The-Enterprise/?kc=EWKNLEDP041008C">coddling the enterprise market</A> the way its rivals do.

Austin, in a presentation at the Gartner Symposium ITxpo April 9, said that 20 to 30 percent of businesses Gartner surveyed claim they are using free Google Apps in addition to Microsoft Office, SharePoint or IBM Lotus software.

While this wouldn't seem to threaten Microsoft or IBM, Austin wondered what might happen if 80 percent of the users in 80 percent of large enterprises start using Google Apps. He argued that the more people use Google Apps, the harder it will be for Microsoft or IBM to benefit from renewing contracts.