Google has made the first step to expand its social networking site to businesses, with a range of new enterprise-level tools.
The new Google+ features are tailored specifically for workplace use, aimed at Google Apps, the cloud email and collaboration suite for schools, companies and government agencies.
Google first indicated last year that it planned to release an enterprise version of Google+ and that it was already using it internally.
The tools, including calenders, more options for private posts and video conferencing ‘Hangouts’, will be free till the end of 2013.
However users need to have a paid subscription to Google’s cloud-based software for businesses, Google Apps, for uninterrupted access.
“During this preview period, organizations that have gone Google will be able to use the business features of Google+ for free through the end of 2013 while we continue to add more features and administrative controls designed for organizations,” wrote Clay Bavor, product management director, Google Apps, in a blog post.
The new business tools allow business users to control who can see their posts on the social networking website and features integrated video conferencing and improved administrative controls over the posts and who can see them.
Google is giving a full preview of the features to Google Apps users. Moreover, users can also add a hangout to a Calendar event.
Hangouts was previously accessible via Gmail and via Google Docs. Administrators now also have the option to restrict Hangouts for private meetings. Google is currently working on the mobile version of the new business suite along with more administrative controls.
“On the Google Apps team, we wake up every day excited to work on products that are powering a fundamental shift in business technologies,” said Clay Bavor, product management director for Google Apps in a blog post. “Whole companies are moving into the cloud, where they rely on the same Web-based applications their employees use at home: Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Docs and Google Drive.”
The new features of Google+ have been in private testing by customers like Kaplan and Banshee Wines, the company said.
Google+ is also gaining IT administration controls to let IT staffers establish policies for usage and content sharing.
Coming soon is a mobile version of Google+’s ESN version, as well as more IT administration features.
http://googleenterprise.blogspot.in/2012/08/bringing-google-to-work.html
