According to an article in the New York Times, Google plan to announce a suite of services aimed at business users.

“Google plan to offer a package of software including its e-mail, calendar and chat programs and a Web site development tool for companies and organizations looking to avoid the high cost of providing such services on their own.”

Google have had their eye on the enterprise space for quite some time, and this looks like being a good way in for them.

Interesting bit:

“Initially, the package will be free, but later this year Google plans to begin selling a version that includes additional features as well as technical support”

If they offer some form of service level agreement, then I can see a lot of smaller businesses taking this up.

“I think it’s going to put Google head-to-head with Microsoft, especially when it comes to price-sensitive markets like small business and education,” said Matthew Brown, an analyst at Forrester Research in Boston.”