Six months ago, Google launched Google Apps, a free suite of utilities including services such as email, instant messaging and Google's office programmes. Even those who haven't used Google Apps directly are sure to have noticed features such as a personalised Google search page, or personalised web search results. Now, Google has extended this free suite by launching a subscription service for larger businesses. This service will cost $50 a year, although it's also possible for users to sign up for a free trial.The subscription service provides a 10GB email storage box - a large offering in compairson to the 2GB of storage that the free version offers. Targeted adverts can be turned off and, unlike many other companies that offer a business web mail service, Google's offering also has instant messaging (Google Talk).
Another advantage of a subscription is that it would provide access to the Google Apps API. This will be a boon for IT boffins looking to integrate their existing systems with Google Apps, or to customise the way that users access the Google Apps system.
Another great feature for the business user is that Google guarantees that the email service will run for at least 99.9 per cent of the time - a bold claim on the part of the world's largest search engine. Additionally, the Premier Edition will allow calendar sharing and telephone support for subscribers.
When comparing the features of Google Docs and Spreadsheets, often seen as Google's direct competitor to Microsoft's Office suite, it's clear that the application has not yet advanced to the same level as the software giant's offering. Google Apps is excellent for carrying out simple tasks, like a small text document or adding up a list of figures, but it doesn't quite compare to the first-rate data manipulation techniques of Microsoft Excel.
However, this is unlikely to be a problem for Google in the future. The primary reason that business users will choose to employ Google Apps is that the system increases integration and mobility. Google Calendar, for instance, integrates with Gmail, allowing the easy scheduling of events, and Google Docs and Spreadsheets lets users collaborate at the same time when working on a single document.
Google Apps even allows remote access to services, allowing people to obtain access to their work at home, or even on a mobile phone. In the future, specialised programmes will certainly still be used for complex tasks; but if Google Apps is used correctly, it seems likely to provide useful benefits for business users on a variety of scales.
