Microsoft, Google trade barbs over government e-mail contract

Microsoft took another swipe at Google on Monday, accusing the Internet giant of lying about its e-mail suite.

In a blog post, Microsoft Vice President David Howard says Justice Department documents unsealed last week indicate that Google Apps for Government don't meet federal security standards. Howard disputed Google's claims that the e-mail service had been certified under the Federal Information Security Management Act.

In a redacted copy of the Department of Justice documents provided by Microsoft, the agency concluded that "it appears that Google's Google Apps for Government does not have FISMA certification." According to the document, Google has received the security certification for its Google Apps Premier, another version of the e-mail suite.

"Open competition should involve accurate competition," wrote Howard. "It's time for Google to stop telling governments something that is not true."

The two companies are sparring over the chance to provide e-mail service to the Interior Department. Google sued after Microsoft won the $59 million contract, alleging that the procurement process was rigged.

Microsoft's e-mail service is not FISMA certified, making the issue moot, Google's David Mihalchik said in a statement.

"We did not mislead the court or our customers," he said. "Google Apps received a FISMA security authorization from the General Services Administration in July 2010. Google Apps for Government is the same system with enhanced security controls that go beyond FISMA requirements."