IBM email challenges Google in the 8216;cloud8217;

8220;Email and other collaboration services are the right entry point for many companies to realize the promise of cloud computing,8221; said IBM Lotus Software general manager Bob Picciano.

8220;But,only if clients feel confident they8217;re getting business-grade service from a trusted leader in enterprise services.8221;

Software provided online as a service instead of being purchased and installed on home or office computers has been a growing trend accelerated by tough economic times because it is cheaper to 8220;rent8221; than to buy software.

Google has been enticing users to a suite of online applications offered as services,many of which compete with text,email,accounting and other software sold by Microsoft.

The California-based Internet titan stumbled last month when its web-based email went offline for a couple of hours.