Google partners with HP to push Apps to small-medium businesses in blow to Microsoft

Google has partnered with HP, the world’s largest PC manufacturer, to promote Google Apps to small businesses, reports AllThingsD.

HP has become a Google Apps reseller and will package management tools with its PCs, printers and other IT gear.

Although more than five million businesses use Google Docs, Microsoft Office remains the default solution, with many either unaware of Google Apps or unsure of how to use them. But if you buy a PC and it comes with Google Apps pre-installed, you’re much more likely to give it a try … 

While Google remains the underdog, Microsoft was sufficiently concerned about the company’s cloud-based approach that it launched Office 365.