Google Gets Injunction Stopping Microsoft's eMail Service
The Department of Interior (DOI) was enjoined from awarding Microsoft a contract to provide a Cloud email service following Google's bid protest. US Judge Susan Braden issued a temporary injunction because the DOI failed to comply with federal procurement laws. Google and Microsoft both offer Cloud email services, but apparently the DOI’s Request for Quotation (RFQ) described Microsoft federally based Cloud email system as the only qualified vendor. After Microsoft was awarded the Cloud email service contract with DOI, Google filed a protest and ask the US Court of Federal Claims to enjoin DOI. Without finding any bad faith by the DOI, on January 3, 2011 Judge Braden issued a preliminary injunction against the DOI going forward with the Microsoft Cloud email system. Competition in the Cloud continues to heat up and this battle between Google and Microsoft will the first of many headline stories, so stay tuned.
