Google and Microsoft are at it again. These two technological industry titans have been going back and forth with each other for years, with each company constantly trying to one-up the other. Whether it’s Microsoft partnering up with Yahoo to boost support for the Microsoft’s new “decision engine” Bing or it’s Google releasing new operating systems such as Chrome or Android to compete with Microsoft’s Windows OS, these two giants just can’t seem to play nice with one another.Well boys and girls, Google and Microsoft are fighting for new territory, and they’re taking us along for the ride.Like many other schools around the country, such as Northwestern, Cornell, Georgetown and Temple, LSU’s TigerMail has switched from the “old and busted” Outblaze network to the “new hotness” that is Gmail.Google’s Gmail system offers students much more memory to store e-mails, as well as features such as Google docs and live chat. Many students who already had Gmail accounts, found the new TigerMail system familiar and friendly.But Google isn’t the only company trying to win the hearts of students and universities. Microsoft would also like a piece of the college e-mail scene — and knowing Microsoft, they’ll get what they want.Kirk Gregersen, senior director for Microsoft’s Live@Edu program, says many schools already rely on Microsoft’s services, such as Windows XP or Office, in the classroom, so most universities are more comfortable letting Microsoft handle the school’s e-mails as well.Google now manages more than 2,000 colleges and universities’ e-mail accounts, offering an estimated 70 times more storage than a standard university e-mail system. Microsoft also provides free Web-based mail for thousands of schools, including colleges in 86 countries, according to a Time article.Last year, 42 percent of schools reported they had already switched to an outsourced e-mail service or were about to make the switch. Another 28 percent said they were considering switching, according to the 2008 national Campus Computing Project (CCP) survey.So who can claim college e-mail supremacy right now?Of the schools that already made the big leap to an outsourced e-mail system, 57 percent joined Google’s side while 38 percent went with team Microsoft, according to the CCP survey. While Google can wear the virtual crown for now, more and more schools are considering outsourcing their e-mail systems — so the torch may be passed off.I commend LSU for switching to let Google handle all of our digital mail needs. The bigger inbox, faster mailing speeds, quick replies and live video and audio chat make TigerMail the one-stop shop for student communication needs (besides Facebook and Twitter of course).It’s easy to see why LSU turned TigerMail into Gmail. Schools such as the University of Notre Dame and Arizona State University saved a combined $1.9 million last year in storage and other tech costs  after outsourcing their e-mail systems to Google. Notre Dame also saw e-mail satisfaction ratings rise 36 percent after the switch. Meanwhile, Washington State University expects to save about $100,000 working with Microsoft, according to Time.Google and Microsoft may not be able to play nice with each other, but they are both making college students’ lives much easier. Being able to quickly check and send e-mails means just one less thing to worry the stressed mind of a college student. TigerMail runs much more smoothly, aside from occasional prolonged downtimes, now that it is run by Google. Now if only LSU would outsource Moodle to Google as well.Adam Arinder is a 19-year-old electrical engineering junior from Baton Rouge. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_aarinder.—-Contact The Daily Reveille’s opinion staff at [email protected]