Google Apps Standard Edition
I went to Google Apps today to set up an account for one of our products. To my surprise, the free version of Google Apps no longer seemed to exist. We have been using Google Apps to host our domain email for years. Now, when you visit Google Apps you only have the option to sign up for their Premier service, at $50 per user per year. There was no mention made at all for the standard edition option that we are currently using.
After doing a specific search for “google apps standard edition”, I did find the following page where you can still sign up for the free “Standard” version of Google Apps. http://www.google.com/apps/intl/en/group/index.html
I am a bit concerned however, about this change. How will Google go forward in the future in regards to existing free users? Will there come a point where they will simply force users to upgrade to the paid “Premier” version? Unfortunately, many of us have become extremely dependent upon using Google services in many areas of our business. Google did put out a blog post in January regarding the limitations now imposed on the Standard version: http://googleenterprise.blogspot.com/2009/01/serving-businesses-better-with-google.html
Now, obviously I don’t have a problem with paying for certain web services. We charge for our products after all. The issue I have here, is that they are misleading people into believing that no free version exists. On the main Google Apps sign up page, there is no option for the Standard version, and nowhere do they say there is a version for acounts with <50 users. This is deceptive, and incredibly unfair. Better that they just came out and honestly say that they no longer want to provide a free service.
