Google unveils government version of software

Google Inc released a special version of its Web-based productivity software designed to meet stringent US government security requirements, as the internet search giant seeks to outmanoeuvre rivals in the race to provide federal and state agencies with new technology.

Google said yesterday that it was the first company to offer email, calendaring and other "cloud-based" software products with a special government certification vouching that Google's systems and practices meet hundreds of federally mandated security controls.

The new version of Google Apps comes as the company continues to work with Los Angeles officials to address security concerns relating to an existing contract to provide city employees with Web-based software.

Google said it was working with the city of Los Angeles to address its evolving security and functionality requirements.

Google said yesterday that it achieved certification under the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA ) on Thursday.

The certification means Google can handle government information deemed sensitive but not classified, according to Google.

In addition to the FISMA requirements, Google said the special government version of the software will store all email and calendar information on servers hosted within the continental United States. The servers hosting government data will be physically segregated from servers used for corporate customers.

Chief executive officer Eric Schmidt said at a news conference yesterday that the certification will give government agencies the green light that they need to adopt Google's online software.

"We have a hot product, what we are doing is knocking down barriers to adoption," said Schmidt, noting that demand among government agencies for Google's cloud-based software is "enormous".

Roughly one dozen federal agencies are already testing Google's new government-grade version of the software, Google said, and the company expects the product to appeal to state and local governments as well.

Google's new Apps for Government will offer the same catalogue of Web-based products that Google has offered to corporate customers for several years and will be priced the same way: $50 per user per annum.

Microsoft has recently begun offering Web-based versions of its popular Office software, which is widely used by corporations and government agencies. Microsoft could not immediately be reached for comment.

Google missed its June 30 deadline to provide its Apps software to certain employees working for the city of Los Angeles amid security concerns by the city's police department.

Google representatives said yesterday that the company has already provided the software to roughly 11,000 Los Angeles employees and was working with the city to address concerns affecting the 13,000 public safety officials not currently using the software.

Google generates 97% of its nearly $24 billion in annual revenue from advertising. The company has said in the past its Apps business generates "hundreds of millions" of dollars in annual revenue and is profitable.