vowe dot net :: Google publishes calendar API

Google publishes calendar API

by Volker Weber

Google is making all the right moves. First they build the coolest web calendar ever and make it understand iCal files so you can subscribe to the brazillions of public calendars out here. Then they integrate the calendar into GMail which lets you set up appointments with other users. They also offer Atom/RSS support which lets you syndicate your calendar into anything that can consume this format. And now they are publishing an API so you can talk to the calendar from your own service.

I bet that pretty soon this will start to run rings around all proprietary offerings from traditional ISVs.

2006-04-20 :: email :: bookmark :: digg

Comments

The question now is how long before Google offers a complete hosted "Exchange-like" service?

Eric Garneau, 2006-04-20 21:39

They are getting there pretty quickly, don't they?

Volker Weber, 2006-04-20 21:42

How is the browser compatibility with the Google calender functionality now? You had some difficulties last week ...

Cem Basman, 2006-04-20 22:01

I seriously thought about using Google mail for domains. The issue for us is having corporate data stored on outside servers. I know smtp mail is not secure, but client data that is mailed internally doesn't leave our servers. I work in health care so this is a big deal.

Then there is the CIO who has ALL his mail forwarded to gmail
CIO BLog

Tony Lee, 2006-04-20 22:06

Runs in Firefox just fine. I believe Safari is not yet supported. Which was also the case when GMail launched, but has beeen subsequentially fixed.

Volker Weber, 2006-04-20 22:08

Tony, having data on outside servers is an issue for many companies. But then there are companies who outsource their IT to an outside vendor.

Volker Weber, 2006-04-20 22:10

Volker says: "But then there are companies who outsource their IT to an outside vendor."

Normally an outsourcing company will come to you and run your IT with his staff on your site. So data will stay at your site. At least this is true for large customers.

BTW, in Germany state owned or ruled organizations and companies are by law not allowed to outsource their "individual-related data" to facilities of "third parties" ... In this case "mail" would be considered as "individual-related data".

Cem Basman, 2006-04-20 22:27

I have one huge problem: Google's services are getting so cool that it's getting increasingly harder for me to resist to use them more extensively.

The reason I don't is because of privacy, I have a bad feeling when some company has all my email and appointments stored. On the other hand, if I did use these services, my life in my Linux/OSX/Windows environment would become a lot easier.

If the same services were offered to me by Microsoft, I wouldn't waste a single thought on signing up for it. In my eyes Google has done so far pretty well with their "Don't be evil" strategy, but will it always stay this way?

I'd love to receive feedback on how you guys are dealing with these questions. I highly value the opinions posted on this site, so I guess your advice would would help me decide wether I shall make the big move or not. =)

Philipp Sury, 2006-04-21 00:28

Vowe, as Cem says that may save large companies money, but not necessarily SMB's. Not sure they could afford it.

FYI Canadian legislation regarding privacy can be quite onerous if followed to the letter. When client info is collected they must be told what that info will be used for. That info must also be relevant to the service we are providing. Once collected only staff that that has a valid need to the info has access to it.

Data on the outside would just add to the headaches depending on the service level agreement and the ability to audit privacy compliance.

Tony S Lee, 2006-04-21 00:33

Despite my protests though, I do have gmail and also share a calendar with my wife.

B-)

Tony S Lee, 2006-04-21 00:46

That's correct, Tony. Large enterprizes save money (at avarage 15% in Europe) through outsorcing because of significantly cutting labor costs, labor hours and manning level for a given task. The reason why labor is very expensive in large organizations is their trend to lose "competence" proportional to their growth. Quite strange (or not so strange) is the fact that their large outsourcing partners (HP. EDS. CSC, ...) are also losing "competence" because of the same reasons. They are growing hierarchies too. This is called the Peter Principle as you know.

SMB seldom become victim of this principle ... ;)

Cem Basman, 2006-04-21 01:23

Any way to subscribe to google calendar with iCal yet? Surely someone will write something to do this, or did I miss something?

Andy Mell, 2006-04-21 20:33