People know "timing is everything" in many aspects of life. Well now is the time to take the extra step and move from a plain GMAIL account into a Google Apps account. Here's why!

GMAIL is now something millions understand and recognize. Google offers for FREE, the ability for anyone that signs up, to have an email address in the form myname@GMAIL.com. It can be used as long as you adhere to their TOS (Terms of Service) agreement. Like AOL, YAHOO and HOTMAIL email addresses, you get storage space and can send / receive emails between any email address around the world.

Google Apps (GApps), is also about communication and GMAIL is one of its core foundation components. Yet many people have never heard about it or are just now learning of it. myname@MYDOMAIN.com would be the address format for emails in this system. Linking all communications, WEB sites and WEB activities with a private domain is the crucial difference.

In addition to the GMAIL suite of messaging features, GApps provide unique organization wide collaboration features and critical server hardware infrastructure. This allows for simple low-cost expansion and extremely fast scalability. Both are critical success factors to organizations experiencing fluctuations in demand, and are seeking ways to increase / decrease capacity without incurring large capital expenditures or installation delays.

The list could go on, but the above represents the essence of difference. Both GMAIL and GApps email addresses provide access to Google's universe of "cloud computing" services. Yet only GApps addresses operate within their own password authenticated private Domain environment. Using a real estate metaphor - GMAIL would be the equivalent of Renting a room in a hotel, where GApps would be like you having Private Ownership of a multi-story, multi-room residential complex.

All critical aspects of the WEB including security, global access and search engine operation depend heavily on use of Domain names and the DNS (Domain Name System).

So while collaboration between single GMAIL.com email addresses is possible, only using GApps allows you to really gain the benefits and advantages of the DNS - which ultimately controls all your presence in the Internet/WEB world. When implemented via Google Apps For Your Domain via Net GApps also has numerous commercial operation benefits.

Best Regards, TOM