Yesterday, it was an “unsubstantiated rumor.” But today, it’s becoming a reality. Google has announced new changes to its Google Apps for businesses. And our fears were finally confirmed, as Google will no longer offer a free version of its Google Apps for businesses, at least for new users. This means that Google is now offering a single option for businesses, and that is the premium version, which costs $50 per year for every user. The package includes 24/7 phone support, a 25 GB inbox, and a 99.9% uptime guarantee with no scheduled downtime.
On the other hand, new users who are planning to use Gmail and the services of the Google Drive app – for free – can create a personal Google account to enjoy Google’s services. Do note that the changes will only apply to new users and that existing Google Apps for business users can still enjoy the free version. “When we launched the premium business version we kept our free, basic version as well. Both businesses and individuals signed up for this version, but time has shown that in practice, the experience isn’t quite right for either group,” says Clay Bavor, the Director of Product Management for Google Apps.
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