Google recently introduced Google Apps Premier Edition, a package of collaboration tools and personal-productivity applications, offering services such as e-mail, calendar, docs and spreadsheets, and instant messaging for enterprise users.

According to research firm Gartner, Google Apps creates a model for providing collaboration tools. Google Apps also utilizes the "Googleplex" highly scalable server architecture, which allows Google to deliver enterprise applications at a very low cost.

Analysts at the firm believe, that Google Apps is the first "Software as a Service" (SaaS) offering that enterprises will seriously consider over the next three years as an enterprise-wide offering.

Nevertheless, Gartner recommends that enterprises recognize that Google Apps is not ready as an enterprise-wide SaaS collaboration solution for most enterprises. This is a version 1.0 product and lacks key features, such as offline availability.

Costs could exceed $50/user/year after factoring in fees for integration, on-boarding, oversight and extras such as archiving and calendar synchronization. Companies also need to scrutinize Google’s privacy policies, long-term road map and ability to comply with external message-related regulations.