Still wondering if Google is serious about the IT channel? The search giant plans to more closely integrate the Google Apps Reseller and Postini partner programs, The VAR Guy hears. But that’s not all: New Google tools are helping VARs to migrate Lotus Notes and Exchange Server customers to Gmail. Here’s the scoop from The VAR Guy.

In this FastChat video, our resident blogger caught up with Stephen Cho, director of Google Apps Channels, during CompTIA Breakaway 2009 in Las Vegas.

First up, Cho provided an update on the Google Apps Reseller program. Next, he described how Google will continue to introduce new migration tools to help VARs transition email customers to Gmail.

Google Apps includes mail, calendar, team site creation, document collaboration, and video sharing applications. All of the applications are available online. Google is working to develop offline (read only) and offline (read and write) versions of each application, Cho adds.

Postini Update

Oh, and there’s chatter about Google more closely aligning the Google Apps Reseller program with the Google Postini partner program. Postini is Google’s email security, archiving and web security application.

Hmmm. Cho didn’t state it directly, but Google seems to realize the 2007 Postini acquisition generated considerable concern among channel partners. In the FastChat video, Cho seems to be suggesting that Google is getting ready to re-energize the Postini partner program.

Our resident blogger will continue to watch Google’s emerging partner programs closely.

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