Google has filed a suit against the United States government for only considering Microsoft solutions when looking at options to improve their messaging functionality, according to TechDirt. Google Apps was not on the government's table and the search giant is arguing that restricting the Request for Quotation (RFQ), a document asking companies to design a solution and quote a price, to Microsoft is "unduly restrictive of competition."

The US is defending its position by claiming that Google was not considered in the RFQ because Redmond offered two things that Mountain View didn't: Unified Mail/Messaging, and "enhanced security." In the RFQ, the Department of Interior (DOI) specifically stated that the solution had to be part of the Microsoft Business Productivity Online Suite according to the 37-page court filing. Google pointed out to the DOI that Microsoft has had downtime issues in the past and insisted that Google Apps is a suitable alternative.

If the DOI really ends up having to fight Google in court, and loses, it could mean bad news for Microsoft, which has been the de facto choice for most governments around the world. If news gets out that Google offers a viable alternative, as ruled in an American court, Microsoft will start to feel the heat. This lawsuit will likely have implications for the cloud war that is coming in the years ahead.

"Google is a proponent of open competition on the Internet and in the technology sector in general," a Google spokesperson said in a statement. "Here, a fair and open process could save US taxpayers tens of millions of dollars and result in better services. We're asking the Department of Interior to allow for a true competition when selecting its technology providers."