Stop the presses, Google Calendar is finally available! You'd think that a cure for cancer has been discovered given all the excitement on this glorious, sunny morning. Yes, GC is pretty impressive with its search capability, tight integration to Google Mail, ease-of-use, etc. But what's the real story (if there is one beyone we're Google and here's yet another cool Web 2.0 app from our army of PhDs)? In other words, how does GC fit into the big-picture strategy? If you step back, Google's portfolio now includes search, maps, a calendar, a word processor (Writely) and e-mail. This gives it a strong foundation for an integrated consumer suite that would be nicely rounded out when/if Google launches some other Office-like services. Is GC the last move before Google rolls out an online productivity suite to take on Microsoft? Will anyone be surprised if Google acquires Vancouver-based Dabble DB, which is developing a Web 2.0 version of Excel?
  Google Calendar strikes me as two-pronged: one, it's another excellent service that gives many people yet another reason to strengthen their online relationship with Google; second, and far more interesting, is it's probably another part of Google's nudge-nudge, wink-wink Trojan Horse strategy to become the Microsoft of Web 2.0. By launching new services in a progressive or staged way, Google is going after the consumer productivity market from several fronts. This, I think, is their long-term strategy
For other views, check out CNet, TechCrunch, and Google Blogoscoped.