Sprint to offer Google Apps to enterprise customers

Sprint has announced that it will begin offering Google Apps for Business to enterprise customers in August. The US telco said it plans to provide the full array of Google Apps and emphasize a mobile-focused approach to using the cloud suite. It will also provide and offer online training and support free.

“Sprint offers a variety of mobile tools to accommodate multigenerational work styles within the workplace, helping people to boost productivity and collaborate from virtually anywhere,” said Mike Fitz, vice president of business solution commercialization, Sprint Business.

“Google’s versatile toolbox makes it simple for businesses large and small to integrate best-in-class, cloud-based solutions,” he said.

Murali Sitaram, director of strategic partnerships for Google Enterprise said the move will give Sprint’s enterprise subscribers access to “familiar tools they can trust.”

“Our partners are critical in this effort, providing valuable cloud and mobility solutions to customers of all sizes and across diverse industries,” Sitaram said.

Google’s mobile-focused cloud partnership strategy is seemingly bearing fruit for the company.

Since 2010 it has had reseller partnerships in place with a wide range of telcos around the globe, and a report published in May this year which surveyed 81,253 companies globally suggests Google Apps uptake is outpacing that of Office 365 by up to a factor of nearly two to one in some cases.

Mike Sapien, principal analyst at Ovum said the partnership is a good indication of the changing nature of the workplace, with enterprises large and small looking to familiar cloud-based productivity platforms in order to cater to the growth in mobile workstyles.

“There is a growing need for solutions built around mobile collaboration that is both well integrated and reliable. The role that Sprint will serve as a major mobility provider with integrated Google Apps represents a very significant step towards helping businesses meet that need,” Sapien said.