PhillipDade.com

As a web based worker, I, like many others are reliant upon Google’s ever increasing catalogue of applications. This list of predictions has been based on the Google Apps collaborative and productivity tools, relevant to web based workers.

1. Gmail, Google Calendar and Google Docs and Spreadsheets will finally come out of beta. The suite of applications will continue to develop in functionality, providing a viable alternative to client based software.
2. Gears will be integrated into the Googles Apps suite, enabling offline working for all users on all applications within the suite.
3. There will be tighter integration between all Google applications. For example, Google Notebook and Google Reader can be accessed and managed directly from Gmail.
4. Google will finally release a task management application, or acquire a third party provider.
5. Gmail Labs features will graduate and be introduced into Gmail for all users. Gmail Labs will be opened up to third party developers to enable production of gadgets and features relevant to business and user requirements.
6. Google Chrome’s features will continue to improve and provide support to Linux and Mac operating systems. Chrome will become a major competitor in the browser market and the operating system for Google applications on the web. There could also be a recurrence of the browser wars between Firefox 3.1, Internet Explorer 8 and Chrome.
7. Google may release a mobile browser for Windows Mobile, Symbian and Blackberry devices, similar to that available on Android.
8. Google will continue to develop the Gmail for Mobile application and enable push email for more mobile devices. Google may even offer a version based around the .NET framework built into Windows Mobile 6, removing the dependence upon Java in WM devices.
9. Google will offer Calendar and Contact synchronisation to all mobile devices, similar to the Calendar sync tool available for Blackberry.
10. Andriod version 2.0 will be released, offering support for MobileMe and Exchange - competing with Windows Mobile devices and the iPhone. Other manufacturers will release Android devices to the general market, available through all mobile service providers.
11. Google will provide IM integration with Yahoo and Windows Live Messenger.
12. The update of Google Apps Standard Edition will increase within education and small businesses, partly due to the global credit crunch.
13. Google will enable centralised management of Adsense, Webmaster Tools and Analytics.
14. Google will release a Analytics API allow data to be accessed and manipulated for reporting from the Google Docs package, if not, all packages. Google Analytics will be developed to offer live information on current sessions.
15. Picasa Web Albums will be developed, offering a viable alternative to Flikr and will also be integrated with the Google Apps suite for businesses. Also the storage limit will be increased.
16. Google Groups will be added to the Apps suite, allowing businesses to use the functionality internally.
17. Each Google Account will be allocated a fixed amount of storage that can be shared between different applications as required. The storage allocation will continue to grow incrementally, but can be upgraded to a fixed amount by payment.
18. Finally, although a bit far fetched, Google will allow Google Apps Administrators to decide where the data for their users’ accounts is to be stored.

Related posts:

1. Mobile working using Google Apps I have now been using Google Apps Standard Edition for about 6 months having previously...
2. Google Increases Gmail storage capacity Rob Siemborski, a Gmail Engineer has announced on the Official Gmail Blog that they are...
3. Google Docs & Calendar Integration with Gmail Finally, through the Gmail Labs feature, Google has provided users’ with the option to integrate...
4. Google rolling out IMAP support for Gmail It’s official, Google is rolling out IMAP support for its Gmail email service over the...
5. Cloud Computing - The future is online apps I found an intriguing read in last months PC Pro magazine entitled, Can You Survive...