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Based on the complete palette of Google's services, it's not hard to imagine a bunch of other vertically organized bundles, nor the third-party provider ecosystems that each could cultivate.
My point in bringing all this up is that it's a mistake to judge Google Apps by what's there today (even though what's there today is a very functional and extraordinary deal, even for 50 bucks).
Tomorrow's functionality is likely to be far more robust than it is today.
It's just a matter of herding the right cats at Google and the more cats Google herds into Google Apps, the more compelling free is going to be.
Likewise, Google's version of AppExchange — currently divided into five categories: Admin, Calendar, Start Page, Professional Services, Other Solutions — is in an embryonic state.
It's no AppExchange yet.
But it will get there.
Not only does Google have the brand recognition that developers look for (as the brand draws users in, developers looking to market their wares to those users will follow) the platform has legs because of who's behind it.
Microsoft is entirely familiar with this model.
No operating system ever...
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