Google launched a free packaged business solution for enterprises today including online chat, email, calendars, and hosting. Called "Gmail for Your Domain" (a ghastly name that is only slightly better referred to as "Google Apps" within the actual admin area) this application package will allow a business owner or administrator to create a separate account per employee.
Each Google Apps account comes complete with the following Google applications:
Gmail: Google’s email program is the central offering
of this set of applications; it acts as the main portal where
the Talk and Calendar functions are provided. Each user has
2 gigabytes of email storage complete with some robust email
management tools that allow automatic email filtering, POP email
access, SPAM management, and contact management.
Required Setup Procedure: Requires that you shift all email protocol from your domain (i.e. http://www.stepforth.com/) to Google so that email can be sent and received using your domain (so that your email correctly displays it came from your domain).
Google Calendar: Probably the most feature rich
application within this entire package, Google Calendar provides
users with the ability to share appointments or entire calendars.
It also has a basic event management option that allows you
to manage RSVP lists and invite associates to meetings. Check
out the full Google Calendar feature list here.
Google Talk: An instant messaging and voice
chat application, Google Talk automatically allows access to
the contact list within Gmail making connections to business
associates and employees simpler. Here is the official description
on Talk from Google: " a downloadable Windows application from
Google that enables Gmail users to quickly and easily talk or
IM with their friends for free. Google is focused on developing
innovative technologies that enhance people's lives, and Google
Talk encourages and simplifies instant communication across
the web."
Required Setup Procedure for Google Calendar and Google Talk: The only requirement is that you prove you are the legitimate owner of the domain you setup your account with. The activation process is simple; just upload a specific html file to your website for Google to verify and voila, both Calendar and Talk are enabled.
Google Web Publishing: This is a free hosting and page creation system (Page Creator) that allows you to create and publish your enterprise site. The site is hosted on Google servers and can only be a maximum of 100 pages in size.
Required Setup Procedure: You must add a CNAME to your domain management configuration (usually by asking your hosting provider) which will setup a subdomain (i.e. http://site.yoursite.com) that you can upload and administer through Google Apps.
Account
Administration
The account administrator using a central online Dashboard
can administer all Google accounts. Within the Dashboard, the
administrator can do the following:
My Take on Google Apps
I setup an account to see how this new offering works
and I think it has some real potential as long as the needs
of an organization are basic. I say this because the majority
of companies that I know of would not be comfortable switching
their vital communication and scheduling systems to an online
model that is not under their control. After all, I do not
expect there will be anyone to bark at if Google Apps experiences
problems; one of the significant minuses of using a free system
(never mind one in beta).
Additionally, a couple of the applications are definitely in their infancy. For example, Google Calendar doe not offer any synchronization capabilities for handhelds or PC’s, so if you make the switch there is no way (currently) to update your handheld with your Google Calendar schedule. This chink alone is enough to keep me from making the switch. Oh and I must not forget Google Page Creator and the free hosting service; it is, well, pointless in its current state. After all, there is no way to upload a website other than using Page Creator, which is a website-publishing tool in its extreme infancy. I can only assume that the web-publishing facet of Google Apps was included as a frill.
Will Websites Hosted on Google
Have an Advantage?
Perhaps but the advantage is minimal; Google states in the Google Apps help area that new sites within
their system can expect to be indexed within "a few hours of
publication"; an impressive turnaround. Hosting on Google will
also likely lead to faster indexing of updated content. After
all, faster updating would be a considerable tease if (make
that ‘when’) Google wants to make a bolder step into the web
hosting industry and provide more advanced hosting packages.
It is truly a brilliant plan, I mean, how could other search
engines compete with a rival search engine that merely has to
look to its own network to index a sizable portion of the Internet.
At any rate, this basic hosted solution has been around for
a while so I don’t want to waste your time with information
you may already know (here is more
info on Page Creator).
How Long Will Google Apps Be Free?
If you signup during
the Beta test of this program you will get use of Google Apps
for free indefinitely according to the Google Apps Terms & Conditions but after the Beta Period
you "may not" get the benefit of newly added technologies without
paying. The following is relevant snippet from the T&C:
No Fees . Provided that Google continues to offer the Google Hosted Services to Customer, Google will provide a version of the Google Hosted Services (with substantially the same services as those provided as of the Effective Date) free of charge to Customer indefinitely; provided that such commitment (i) applies only to End User Accounts created during the period when the Google Hosted Services are considered a beta service (the "Beta Period") by Google (such Beta Period determination at Google's sole discretion) and (ii) may not apply to new opt-in services added by Google to the Google Hosted Services in the future.
Will There Be a More Advanced Version
of Google Apps Soon?
"For sake of clarity, Google reserves
the right to offer a premium version of the Google Hosted Services
for a fee." (Excerpt from Google Apps Terms & Conditions)
. In fact, the answer appears to be a resounding yes since Google
wants you to notify them
if you are interested in a premium version so that they can
let you know when it comes available.
What Else May Be Coming to Google
Apps?
I fully expect that following apps will be included
in the near future, just click on them to see their formal description
at Google:
So You Have More Questions About
Google Apps? Well!
I tried to cover a lot in this article but I likely
missed something so here is a direct link to Google’s help/FAQ area for this new service.
Discuss this article in the Small Business Ideas forum.
August 28, 2006
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Ross Dunn is the CEO of StepForth Web Marketing Inc., a web marketing company founded in 1997 and based in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. StepForth provides cutting-edge search engine optimization services that provide highly successful, targeted results for its clientele. Ross Dunn is a Certified Internet Marketing and Business Strategist (CIMBS) with a background in web design and business management. His broad Internet experience in combination with a talented staff has made StepForth a name synonymous with top results.
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