Google announces OneBox architecture for real-time business data search

By Jessica Twentyman

Consumer search giant Google has strengthened its commitment to the enterprise search market with the recent launch of the latest version of the Google Search Appliance (version 4.6).

While previous versions of the Google Search Appliance already enabled companies to add search to their enterprise networks for unstructured information, OneBox extends that search to dynamic, real-time data held in enterprise applications, financial records and business intelligence (BI) repositories through a single search request.

That effort has required partnership with the suppliers of these enterprise systems and Google is relying heavily on such vendors to develop modules that will enable their products to interact with OneBox.

To date, Google has lined up about 60 software and systems integration partners, including applications giant Oracle, business intelligence software suppliers Cognos and SAS Institute, online application providers Salesforce.com and NetSuite, and networking giant Cisco Systems.

IT market analysts have largely praised Google’s strategy for the OneBox architecture. "If you provide applications or data that enterprise personnel may need to search, evaluate Google’s API programme immediately," says Whit Andrews of Gartner.

But, he warns, companies that take his advice should also carefully examine the depth and sophistication of the connectors that Google’s partner vendors build. "Do not simply assume that a connection is deep and productive," he adds.

At the same time, most analysts also agree that the ability to search across multiple data types is nothing new to most companies – they have been able to buy it for years from enterprise search suppliers, such as FAST Search and Transfer and Autonomy.

For that reason, they say, the incumbents in enterprise search are unlikely to be driven away as a result of Google’s intervention. High-end systems that cost several hundreds of thousands of dollars, but produce more relevant results across a wider range of sources, will continue to be the choice for large enterprises with very specific business needs.