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"In a decision that Google is sure to celebrate, the US Government today decided to consider its Apps product alongside of Microsoft's productivity tools for a coming contract.\u00A0Google dropped its lawsuit over the matter as a result.\r\n\r\nThe contract, which amounts to nearly 50 million dollars, is a flash point between the two giants, as they spar for space in the enterprise and government sectors. Google's Apps suite is an up and coming tool, while Microsoft's products are what might be called the 'default' option. Now that Google's offerings will be considered side by side with Microsoft's products, Office stands to\u00A0potentially\u00A0lose mind- and market-share.\r\n\r\nGoogle and Microsoft have been locked in what the Seattle-Pi calls a &amp;quot;high-profile pissing match&amp;quot; over the issue for some time. We have covered the back and forth somewhat extensively.\r\n\r\nThe last chapter that we touched upon was a rather\u00A0lengthy shouted\u00A0discussion\u00A0between the two firms.\u00A0It centered around whether, or not, Google had a specific certification that allowed its products to be used in certain governmental settings. Google claimed that it had it. Microsoft called shenanigans. Google called Microsoft's allegations crap. It was a fun time.\r\n\r\nBut now it seems that the die has been set, and the pieces moving for Google to move with deliberate force into the government space. Microsoft will have to toughen its shields if it wants to completely combat the Google incursion.\r\n\r\nThe contract in question is now being\u00A0re-prepared, and will consider Google. It is now Microsoft's move."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://thenextweb.com/google/2011/09/29/us-gov-to-consider-google-apps-as-alternative-to-microsoft-products/>