Here's one way Microsoft can beat Google Apps: by buying customers.

The University of Nebraska is scrapping Lotus Notes for a cloud-based system, and was trying to decide whether to go with Google Apps or Microsoft's recently launched competitor, Office 365.

The University chose Microsoft's product -- and told InformationWeek that Microsoft gave them $250,000 for making that choice.

The funds came out of a program called Business Incentive Funds, and will help the University pay for consultants to help it make the switch.

Microsoft has long been rumored to offer huge discounts and paybacks like this to get early adopters for new products, and to beat back Google in enterprise and government contracts, but this is a rare instance in which a customer actually admitted it.

It also highlights what a hard uphill battle Google faces if it seriously wants to take Microsoft on in the enterprise.