Google Apps, which I recommended as a way to make the most of your Gmail account, has a free version that anybody with a domain can setup as long as they have fewer than 50 users. Starting May 10th, that number will be reduced to 10. While this might reduce the infrastructure costs of Google Apps, I fear it might also reduce the adoption of other organizations that need 11 accounts or more. Here’s the note Google Apps sent out today:
Hello,
We recently announced upcoming changes to the maximum number of users for Google Apps. We want to let you know that, as a current customer, the changes will not affect you.
As of May 10, any organization that signs up for a new account will be required to use the paid Google Apps for Business product in order to create more than 10 users. We honor our commitment to all existing customers and will allow you to add more than 10 users to your account for example.com at no additional charge, based on the limit in place when you joined us.
Sincerely,
The Google Apps Team
Fortunately, they’re grandfathering current customers in and those customers will continue to have the maximum user account cap as when they signed up. For me, that is 50 user accounts.
Even with a maximum of 10 user accounts, Google Apps still offers a lot of features that it is well worth it for individuals to use Google Apps. Organizations with more than 10 users, however, will have to pause a moment to weigh their options.