Los Angeles moving to Gmail and cloud computing
Could this be the beginning of a trend?
NPR reports that the City of Los Angeles has voted to overhaul its email system, converting it from a Microsoft-based software system, to a Google Gmail system where the data will be kept private on Google's servers across the U.S.
With so many municipal and state governments strapped for cash these days, you've gotta wonder if this is gonna catch on. If L.A. is serious about doing it, shouldn't others take a hard look at it, too? Politicians eager to bring home some tax savings to their constituents may not be able to resist the urge to review their local government's spending on I.T., and figure out what they could push into the Google cloud.
For those looking for some more detail on the possible rationale behind this deal, take a look at this InformationWeek column, which gives four possible reasons that L.A. chose Google over Microsoft.
Hey Mayor Sheila Dixon -- is somebody in your office gonna take a closer look at this?
This is an archived version of the technology blog. For updated coverage, see the current baltTech location: baltimoresun.com/balttech
Categories: Big Ideas, Government Tech, West Coast
Comments
Not long ago, Towson University switched to Google from an open source platform. They were considering Microsoft, but went with Google. It's great and much easier to use. The only downside is that for students, our email addresses had to get longer (i.e.: instead of jdoe1@towson.edu it's jdoe1@ students.towson.edu)
Verrrry interesting. I didn't know that TU was on Google. Thanks! -gs
Posted by: Tyler | October 30, 2009 10:12 AM
Gus,
Tyler's comment reminded me of another way Towson University is using a Google platform.
Check out our cool, new interactive campus maps program: http://www.towson.edu/main/maps/
Our Design Center, which initiated the year-long project, provided graphics, photographs and links placed over a base Google Maps application developed by TU's geography department’s Geospatial Research and Education Lab.
Users can generate specific markers for academic and administration buildings, residence and dining buildings, permit parking, visitor parking, accessible parking, TU shuttle stops, MTA bus stops, or any combination thereof. The transportation markers include links offering a real time prediction of when the next bus will be arriving, along with printable schedules.
Also, the Design Center can can easily update this map, an asset to an ever evolving campus such as ours!
Stu Zang
I've seen it. Way cool. -gs
Posted by: Stu Zang | October 30, 2009 10:59 AM
Loyola University just switched to Microsoft (from Novell) for all student and alumni email and Exchange for faculty and staff. Not sure how the Students like it but I've heard several complaints from a couple people I know on staff there.
Posted by: Paul | October 30, 2009 11:12 AM
Very interesting information.
I work with a cloud based saas company and we are noticing more and more interest from schools, governmental agencies and various non profit organizations that are looking to save money by using saas 'pay as you go' and cloud hosting services.
This should be a continuous trend with other states.
Posted by: Bill Watson | October 30, 2009 1:28 PM
City of LA was on Groupwise (novell) not microsoft Exchange, Microsoft was bidding against both Novell and google, but lost out.
Posted by: pegleg2007 | November 10, 2009 12:02 AM