A report from research firm Gartner claims that Google's Gmail has become a feasible alternative to Microsoft's Exchange Online, which has been dominating the corporate email services for years.

Google Gmail's share in the enterprise email market currently stands at approximately 1 per cent, but it accounts for roughly half of the available cloud-based options as cloud-based services account for 3-4 per cent of the overall enterprise email market.

According to Gartner's research vice president Matthew Cain, Google's share of overall enterprise market will likely hit 10 per cent within a few years to come, as cloud email's share is expected to reach 20 per cent of the market by the end of 2016.

Speaking about the growth of as cloud email service, Cain said, "We expect it to be a growth industry, reaching 20 per cent of the market by year-end 2016, and 55 per cent by year-end 2020."

However, Gartner warns that the way ahead for Gmail enterprise service will be bumpy as Google is reluctant to provide extra tweaks being demanded by certain businesses.

Organizations, such as big financial institutions, have complex email requirements like surveillance capabilities which the Internet search giant is not ready to build into its Gmail service given the inadequate appeal.