Google Apps
What is it?
Google Apps is an online collection of programs and file storage that run in your internet browser. There is no necessity to buy or install software. All you have to do to use the service is to log onto Google Apps and access your files and tools.
The following tools that come with googleApps are listed below. You can also customize Google Apps through the usage of your own domain name, and redesign the interface to reflect your company’s branding.
Communication Tools:
- Gmail
- Google Talk
- Google Calendar
Productivity Tools:
- Google Docs
- Customizable start page
- Google Sites
How it Works
Files created have their own owners, which determine who can access the file, and set their read/write permissions. All content is stored centrally, making collaboration and document management much simpler than distributing files to multiple individuals, manually keeping track of different versions. Files are centralized and maintained in the Google Apps base, and users can view and edit the file and keep track of all the changes, along with who made them. Version histories are available for users to compare between versions. All files can b published online and/or exported in multiple formats (PDF, Word, RTF, OpenOffice, .xls, etc.)
Benefits:
- Affordable
- Over 35GB of space
- Anywhere, anytime access with an internet connection
- One interface for all communication tools
- Better organization tools for collaborative tasks
- Expanding tools base as Google acquires more online service companies
Comparison Chart
| Google Apps for Business | Microsoft Exchange 2007 | ||
| Up-front cost | |||
| Total server hardware cost | $0 | $10,000 | |
| Total software licensing cost | $0 | $3,193 | |
| Configuration labor cost | $1,335 | $2,583 | |
| Total up-front cost | $1,335 | $15,776 | |
| Annual cost | |||
| Google Apps for Business licenses | $500 | $0 | |
| Total infrastructure maintenance cost | $0 | $2,298 | |
| Administration labor cost | $2,802 | $31,804 | |
| Total annual cost | $3,302 | $34,103 | |
| Total cost (over 3 years) | $11,239 | $118,083 | |
| Annual cost per employee (over 3 years) | $375 | $3,936 | |
| Annual cost per employee (over 3 years, excluding labor) | $50 | $670 |
