Google Apps for Business is really rather good

[Optegris]

Now after spending the last five or so years running a mailserver from my office using Exchange/SmarterMail I made a decision to give Google another try. I had tried (unsuccessfully) a couple of years ago to move all my email to Google but it was a royal pain.

Within 24 hours I have now got all my email being piped into my Google account with flags and filters galore setup and also migrated about 40,000 legacy emails as well without a hitch.

On top of this it's blazing quick, not just receiving mail but also connecting via IMAP via Outlook/Android. I had a couple of questions that I threw at Google support that have been answered in full within 15 minutes.

Overall I'm seriously impressed.

 

[edmondscommerce]

heh yeah welcome to the club

 

[Reactivequation]

Completely agree - have been using Google Apps for a few weeks now, and loving the seamless handling of my emails, calendar, contacts and documents/files.

 

[Trust Malcolm]

We love Google docs, like you say once it's set up, which is really easy, everything synchs automatically! It's sort of what computers were made for isn't it?!

 

[Alan]

Yes Google Apps for Business is easy peasy Shame that they stopped doing the free for under 10 users, but the costs are pretty trivial.

 

[Chris Ashdown]

? are you all moving all of your eggs into the same basket without realising it.

What are Google's future plans for you and how easy will it be to move again in say a few years time when they have you tied into many other apps

 

[Optegris]

Very easy for me as I don't use it for docs or the calendar. I can download all my email and go elsewhere...

 

[Alan]

Well, isn't this the same issue for any technology choice. You have to evaluate how long a vendor is going to support the product you use - whether it is Software as a Service or whether you install Software and self manage on your own hardware.

There are viable alternatives to Google Apps, including Microsoft 365 (for those that cant stand the idea of office technology not using Microsoft) and there is Zoho sort of a Google Apps Clone, but actually has some nice extras like 'remote assist'

 

[edmondscommerce]

You can easily download all of your documents and you can export calendars into the standard ics format:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICalendar

I think (and hope) that Google's strategy isnt one of technical lock (which I hate) in but of simply being so good you don't want to move away

 

[dianaz]

Now after spending the last five or so years running a mailserver from my office using Exchange/SmarterMail I made a decision to give Google another try. I had tried (unsuccessfully) a couple of years ago to move all my email to Google but it was a royal pain.

Within 24 hours I have now got all my email being piped into my Google account with flags and filters galore setup and also migrated about 40,000 legacy emails as well without a hitch.

On top of this it's blazing quick, not just receiving mail but also connecting via IMAP via Outlook/Android. I had a couple of questions that I threw at Google support that have been answered in full within 15 minutes.

Overall I'm seriously impressed.

need to try! thanks for sharing

 

[clara_butler]

Completely agree - have been using Google Apps for a few weeks now, and loving the seamless handling of my emails, calendar, contacts and documents/files.

+1...I can understand a use for Google voice. I often work from abroad, when receiving calls to my mobile I have to pay even for inbound calls. It would be handy to be able to switch these to Skype when I am at my PC, but overseas, then I can avoid this charge. Then when not at a PC they can be switch to voice mail or to the mobile. Considering that even picking up regular voice mails experience a charge for most people when they are overseas I think this could be a useful feature.

 

[HarrogateMark]

New to the whole forum and, cards in the table, I found this post on a Google Alert and do work for a Google Apps reseller in Leeds. But I'm not a salesman and am more interested in discussing Google Apps. Firstly, from my experience Google Apps isn't going anywhere. Secondly, it is indeed brilliant - I honestly couldn't imagine switching back to Microsoft if I moved jobs now (a bit of a problem to me personally I guess!). Thirdly, I'm a Google Apps trainer and happy to offer any help foc to members - oh and I run a free tips website - gappstips dot com.

Only want to help, so if I've broken any rules here apologies!