Google Apps News & Articles

Far be it from me to spread gossip and rumor BUT… well, yesterday when we took a look at the new upgrade to v2.1 of IBM’s SmartCloud, we came across a number of references to the fact that Google is building a c loud computing offering that is to compete with Amazon’s EC2 cloud.

Google App maker BetterCloud has debuted a new domain management tool to go along with a collaboration tool it released in February, and the company raised US$ 2.2 million in new seed funding to keep building even more.

No matter what you say about Google, Google Apps has become one of the everyday work tools for many enterprises, especially -- although not exclusively -- in the SMB space. Most people assume that easy functionality combined with bargain-basement pricing is the main attraction. However, according to research by Cloud Alliance, that is not, in fact, the case.

In the GRC space this week, the big news has to be that Google is offering cheap e-Discovery with its Google Apps. However, there are more nuggets in Lockpath’s survey of risk, while a number of GRC acquisitions this week are worth noting.

With more than 7 billion documents, calendar events and contacts already on file in Google Apps,  Spanning Backup v. 3.0 promises "Business-Class Cloud to Cloud" backup and is showing its users a pretty new face courtesy of its newest VP of design and UI, ex-Frog Design guru BJ Heinley. 

Google has recently announced new features that would greatly benefit mobile users -- offline Gmail, Docs and Calendar. Working via a Chrome browser plugin and HTML5, the new offline functionality will let users access messages, documents and appointments even without an active Internet connection.

This week, RecMan extended its records management for Google Apps by adding to Gmail, IdentityLogix adds security module to VMWare, M-Files and NetSuite integrate, CaseCentral puts R5 on general release and Recommind’s Axcelerate e-Discovery is named trend-setting technology for 2011.

CMSWire recently looked at why Google Docs is not Enterprise CMS. We did note at the time, that the on-going development of both native and 3rd party functionality was shifting its shape. The most recent of these additions brings certified records management functionality to Gmail and Google Docs.

This week in Google, our little Docs got some new duds. Meanwhile, apps for Plus are beginning to crop up and some security news might help you sleep at night. 

Sometimes I am skeptical of Microsoft evangelists who love their job too much. Such is the case with Mary Jo Foley, blogger at All About Microsoft and Microsoft groupie. Foley came prepared with acronyms and Microsoft key messaging, ready to give us a high-level perspective of Microsoft’s new Office 365.

Users of cloud-based Google Apps and Google App Engine can sleep a little more soundly at night knowing that their data is safe and secure with Google. Google (news, site) announced that they have completed SSAE-16 Type II and ISAE 3402 Type II security audits.

The Google wheels turned this week just as quickly as the last with the release of Google Takeout,  news of profiles forcibly made public and a peek at the up and coming face lift across the Internet giant's entire ecosystem. 

Have you noticed any changes to your Google interface lately? The Internet giant has been slowly rolling out a new look that will continue over the course of the summer. The revamp aims to make the UI across Google more focused, elastic and effortless. These are all good things, but if change gives you anxiety you are free to preview it before it fully arrives. 

After months of squabbling between Google and Microsoft over Office 365 and Google Docs, things finally came to a head today with the official, general release of Office 365 by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer in New York.

Cloud Sherpas (news, site) continues its mission to spread Google Apps adoption today with the acquisition of Beloit Solutions Group. Hot on the heels of attaining Omnetic, the move also aims to strengthen Google presence in what is largely considered Microsoft territory as the giants continue to throw below-the-belt punches at one another.