Google to sell enterprise apps

Google is reportedly preparing a new service to sell enterprise applications.

According to a multiple media reports, the new service would allow third party developers to sell plug-ins for the Google Apps platform and other web-based services.

The service would reportedly target business customers and allow customers to purchase add-ons to expand the reach of the Apps lineup written by outside developers.

Salesforce has long relied on a similar environment in the form of its AppExchange to allow smaller third party developers to add specialized abilities into its CRM service and other web-based offerings.

The format is also being used by mobile developers such as Apple and Blackberry to provide 3rd party applications for smartphones and mobile handsets. In exchange for providing the marketplace platform, the companies take a small cut of the transaction.

More recently the approach has also been expanded to online book services from Apple and Amazon.