Is The Android Platform Ready For Office Use? (Part 1) – The Application War

Applications are everything.  A platform can do or die from it’s lack of applications.  We witnessed the rise and fall or WebOS (which had a very promising future and might still have one…) and we witnessed the recent ascension to power of the Android platform.  It’s much more than a device war, it’s an application war.

Let’s take a look at the applications produced by Google and their possible everyday office use.  We can look at third-party apps a little later since they are not a direct product of Google and might not follow their vision.

Google Docs (web based app)
After using, or might I say, trying to use google docs from my android web browser I must say that power users might as well use third party applications such as Quickoffice or Documents to go.  The speed at which you can access your files might be tolerable for some but the limitations behind the editing is a deal breaker for me.

Google Finance
I have been using Google Finance online through my laptop and always thought that the application on my phone was too limited.  I know, it’s not supposed to replace the real thing but it’s hard to believe that with an application such as Facebook which offers you a maximum of available features through every update that Google Finance is still at this level.  You can consult your portfolio, view real-time updates of the stock market, search stocks and read news related to the companies in your portfolio.  All this might be enough for a regular business person but you can forget anyone with money on the stock market.

Google Talk
Very effective way to stay in contact with the office (taking into consideration that if everyone at the office is using an Android device, then everyone at the office has a Google account).  Even if away in another country on a business trip, once your device is connected to Wi-Fi, there is no need once again for any third-party chat apps.  Google Talk is quick, effective and clean.  Everything you can wish for from a chat client.  Not as good as BBM but close enough for most of us.

Google Voice
Very cost effective for any company who might want to save on minutes usage, long-distance fees on a larger scale, this application is very well integrated in the operating system.  A quick set-up is all that is needed and additional phone numbers can be purchased and used as cost-effective business line for smaller companies or self-employed people.  With free unlimited calls to the US and Canada and low international rates this service/app should be standard across all platforms.

Google Maps
Running late for a meeting and looking for the fastest way to get to it? Following your employees’ every step through latitude? Trying to avoid traffic after a long day at the office?  Exploring the city you just landed in for the yearly convention? Google Maps is one of the best business tools flying under the radar.

Calendar
Sync your calendars, invitations and meetings.  A very well integrated daily planner synced to your Google calendar along with all the other calendars syncing to your Google account.

These are just a few of the applications made available to you by Google.  This link will take you to a showcase of what else Google has in store for you.  With the Atrix coming out and the laptop possibilities the android platform is giving us, the idea of having my complete office on the cloud is growing on me.  Is it growing on you??