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Google Apps stops accepting free sign-ups

googleenterprise.blogspot.com

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Re: Google Apps stops accepting free sign-ups

#441

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sssoooo you used a story about losing business when using gmail for hosting to say that self-hosting was bad? I'm sorry, I still don't understand.

My point is, I made a minor mistake in configuring GMail. That was my own fault. Multiply that amount of configuration by a million, and see if you don't make a mistake. Do ongoing maintenance, and see if you don't make a mistake. Keep everything secure, make sure you're whitelisted by every major provider, and ensure no messages ever bounce one way or another. My point is, fucking up is bad and easily costs you mone…

Okay, got it. I didn't even realize you had made a configuration mistake!

Re: Google Apps stops accepting free sign-ups

#442

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you have the time for it, you could try a VPS and your own IMAP/SMTP-server and web-interface. I migrated off Google a year ago to my own server, took a day to sit down and understand/configure it and have since then run smoothly w/o me touching it. And since I host some other people's domains and mail for a small fee, I actually earn a few $ / year.

How bad is spam if you do that?

I've done the same as him, and I just make sure I use spamassassin. It works just as well or better than GMail at catching spam.

Re: Google Apps stops accepting free sign-ups

#443
post #7

Not sure how to feel about this. The core feature of the free Google Apps was that you could use GMail with your own domain without having to run a dedicated mail server yourself.

Maybe this will drive alternatives that are cheaper than $50 per user per year.

Any cheaper than $50 per user per year and you're in the free range. Just to keep this in perspective, $50 a year is a pretty good value when you think about what you're getting in Google Apps.

Re: Google Apps stops accepting free sign-ups

#444

Wow, I'm so glad I'm grandfathered in! I have 8 users, just for me. Having to spend $400 on my email (or spend a lot of time either switching or combining mail accounts) every year would be hell.

I have grandfathered 50 users account. No idea what to do with it.

Is it a good idea to grandfather the maximum users ? Or will the existing accounts still be able to use 10 users ?

Re: Google Apps stops accepting free sign-ups

#445
post #348

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks, that could be an alternative and I'll play around with it to see how it works out.

It works, but Outlook (or at least some versions) will always show your emails as being from something like "address-you-forward-to@gmail.com (via you@your-real-domain.com)" which is annoying.

You can set gmail to use the smtp servers associated with your-real-domain.com and avoid this message.

Re: Google Apps stops accepting free sign-ups

#446
post #319

Earlier quoted context omitted.

by cutting off free users they just opened themselves to getting undercut by a smaller company that can offer fewer, cheaper, targeted options. I just wanted an email for my domain and that's not worth 50 bucks a year. I'll just set up my own email system at this point, call it a learning experience and never be exposed to the rest of whatever was in Google Apps.

Rackspace email. Equally good experience IMHO, absolutely fantastic support, $12 a year per mailbox. Best purchase of a web service I've ever made. Your email is the skeleton key and core of your online existence, that's far too important to leave to a company that considers support an exercise in statistic management.

> far too important to leave to a company that > considers support an exercise in statistic management

My impression is that paid Google Apps support is pretty good: http://contact.googleapps.com/

Re: Google Apps stops accepting free sign-ups

#447
post #319

Earlier quoted context omitted.

by cutting off free users they just opened themselves to getting undercut by a smaller company that can offer fewer, cheaper, targeted options. I just wanted an email for my domain and that's not worth 50 bucks a year. I'll just set up my own email system at this point, call it a learning experience and never be exposed to the rest of whatever was in Google Apps.

Rackspace email. Equally good experience IMHO, absolutely fantastic support, $12 a year per mailbox. Best purchase of a web service I've ever made. Your email is the skeleton key and core of your online existence, that's far too important to leave to a company that considers support an exercise in statistic management.

[deleted]

Re: Google Apps stops accepting free sign-ups

#448
post #159

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm curious what happens with the people that are in limbo - that is still in their 30 day trial period and are unable to downgrade to a free version because of that.

Me too. I just set up a client's email with Google Apps a couple of days ago intending to use the free version. Its going to be a big headache if they can't use the free offering.

Just got an email from Google saying that this account will remain free.

Re: Google Apps stops accepting free sign-ups

#449

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, there's really two parts to a "vanity" domain: I want a nice looking email address, and I want to own my email address no matter what service I use. It's nice to be able to also use an awesome service like Gmail on top of it. It's worth some value to me, but $50/user/year is a bit much for a family of ~5 light email users.

I think this is only for new customers, not existing ones.

Right, but we're talking about the (now current) pricing model. There are many many many small family units that have not yet converted to "vanity" gmail. Now they won't ever.

Re: Google Apps stops accepting free sign-ups

#450
post #247

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Per account.

How much do you pay your employees?

What?

I use Google Apps to host 4 email addresses for my personal domain.

Personal email Online shopping email Forums/Programming email Facebook-only email (so people can't search for me)

I use it for me. I wouldn't pay $20/month for such a service, and Google is smart for not taking free away from existing customers.

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