Google Apps are a collection of web based business applications provided by Google that's already empowering more than 2 million businesses across the globe by giving them the tools they already know and love in their work place.
Think of it like the extremely cost effective and outsourced collaboration system (that replaces Microsoft Exchange, Lotus Notes, etc)
Google Apps is offered under the SaaS (Software as a Service) model, where the vendors manages everything.
You may also want to try the cost comparison tool provided by Google.
What do I get?
If you have a GMail account then you can try out most of these services by logging into GMail. Google accounts are free so feel free to get one and try out the innovate web based interface offered by Google Apps.
Everything runs inside a web browser, there's no need to install any extra software on your desktop (as long as it has modern Web Browser). It's also support under all popular desktop platforms (e.g Windows, Mac OS X, Linux).
- GMail for your domain (25Gb space per account)
- Shared Calendaring
- Instant Messaging using Google Talk
- Intranet style web sites using Google sites
- Google Video hosting to share within your corporate
- Global Address Book
- Google Documents (Docs, Spreadsheets, Presentations)
- Web based document viewer (for PDFs, Words documents, etc)
- World class SPAM and Virus filter system
- Mobile access on most popular platforms
- Push messaging for smart phones (iPhone, Blackberry, Windows Mobile)
- Always there where ever you go
- No backups or disaster recovery strategies required
If Google runs this, what does ETK do?
We offer our technical know how of how this whole thing works, we have experience with migrating people over to Google Apps and can do this in a way that causes the least amount of disruption to your corporates electronic communication.
Additionally we can provide you advise on how-to get your mobile devices talking to Google Apps, and/or provide full blown training sessions so you can use these technologies better.
We will also manage your billing and will be there to support you.
We eat our own dog food, we use Google Apps. Oh by the way so do the employees of Google.
How much does it cost?
There are three different types of costs associated with Google Apps. The first is an annual fee that is charge per user per account. You can buy as little or as many account as you please and buy them as you go.
The second is a one off setup cost, that ensures that everything is setup with your domain properly. We conduct this and charge this directly to you.
The third is an optional cost, which buys you hourly support or daily training sessions. Training generally allows us highlight the features of the Google Apps system and helps your staff migrate quicker.
| Per user, per year | US $50 |
| Setup (once off fees) requires you to own a domain name |
AUD $440 |
| Migration per account | ask for a quote |
| Adhoc support per hour (billed in 30 minute blocks) via EMail, IM and Phone only |
AUD $110 |
| On-site training per day (travel costs exclud ed) | AUD $880 |
