Google, Tata Comm partner for some services in India

Google Inc's Indian unit and Tata Communications will partner to provide web-based business connectivity services to companies in India, where a fast-expanding economy throws up new opportunities.

Google Inc's Indian unit and Tata Communications will partner to provide web-based business connectivity services to companies in India, where a fast-expanding economy throws up new opportunities.

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The companies would work together to provide business tools such as email, instant messaging, calendar functionality, video and office presentations over the Internet using the Google Apps software suit, Tata Communications said in a statement.

While Microsoft and International Business Machines Corp dominate the market for enterprise email, Google is trying to convince businesses to switch to its so-called cloud-based services, in which software is accessed over the Internet.

Google CEO Eric Schmidt said in April that the company had a couple of million enterprise customers for the Google Apps software suite and was adding about 3,000 businesses per day.

The web-based services would help companies cut costs without needing to buy additional software or hardware, Tata Communications said.