Google Apps for your Domain

Just launched yesterday Google Apps for your Domain is in beta phase (which doesn't mean alot these days as many development companies are launching immature software services and it's becoming the norm). But as far as this suite of web tools is concerned it's at the stage where Google are requesting "beta" testers. Personally, I'm not sure this isn't a marketing ploy to get early adopters to sign up seeing as how Google knows how effective this type of viral marketing ploy works, in a word "effectively!" But is this latest suite of Web tools just a way of bundling a number of Google's existing tools in an attempt to market them more effeciently? You see, all these tools are available separately...

• Gmail
• Google Talk
• Google Calendar
• Google Page Creator

Gmail Probably a year more more ago an associate sent me a gmail invitation (it was the only way to join up, then) and, to be honest, I tried it briefly and forgot about it. Reason being I already had an email address using my own business domain name - what's the point of having another non-related email address. I have a Yahoo address as a backup should my domain email address become unavailable temporarily. And I feel most small business owners will probably operate in the same way. Therefore, I'm guessing for most SME's Gmail can be ignored. Google Talk Provides Instant Messaging (IM) email and calls. But again, I have other tools for this job. Yahoo Instant Messaenger (YIM) and Skype. Again one tool has come out on top, so I don't use YIM very much. Also, with Google Talk you need a Gmail account. This smacks to me of trying to tie in the Google user. My recommendation would be to use Skype. Google Calendar Now this is one Google tool I do use - I've even stopped using the Calendar facility in Outlook. It gives me the flexibility to access my appointments from any computer with Net access. Google Page Creator It's supposed to do exactly what it says on the tin. Just one big flaw (that I know of) the pages are hosted on Google's servers at this address - http://yourgmailusername.googlepages.com. What good is that to a small business? Let me answer that - none. Gone are the days when a small buiness is taken seriously on the Web if it doesn't have its own domain name. So this one is a complete non-starter for the SME! It seems Google are bringing to market all sorts of Web tools, some of which can be very useful to the small businesses (like Calendar) but there do seem to be a growing number of questionable worth. BTW, it appears Google may add more tools to this suite. A clear indication of their intention to go head-to-head with Microsoft. Google, I predict you've got a lemon on your hands with this suite of Web tools, sorry.