Are you an exchanger or a googler?

Recently, I switched my primary email client.  For years I have been using Microsoft Outlook.  I have trudged through the various upgrades and the new versions.  I’ve adapted to the search functions and the cumbersome contacts addressbook.  I’ve struggled through Microsoft’s poor attempt at Business Contact Manager.  Recently, I had the opportunity to try out the Beta version of Microsoft Outlook 2010.  I could not be more disappointed in Microsoft (I know…. big surprise).  On the heals of what I consider a huge success with the launch of Windows 7, I had high hopes.  But Outlook 2010 was nothing but trouble for me as it often froze and the only way to bring it back from the dead was to open the task manager and shoot it down.

A few months ago, I decided to give Google Apps a try.  Google Apps is gmail on steroids.  To give you some idea of who is using Google Apps, the University of West Florida recently switched all of its email accounts to Google Apps.  They joined companies all over the world making the switch from Microsoft-based Exchange accounts to Google Apps.  The price point and the features are excellent for my needs.  Google Apps allows you take a domain such as ctpensacola.com and set up as many email accounts on it as you want for just $50 per year per computer (first month trial is free).  For the $50, you receive the anti-spam service Postini (very customizable), shared calendars and 25 GB worth of storage.  The last time I checked against Microsoft Exchange or Hosted Exchange, this was a steal.  Exchange servers can be very difficult and expensive to manage.  Hosted Exchange (where someone else maintains the server) are typically $8-15 per month per computer with much less storage.

Users switching from Outlook or Exchange-based email may have to make a few adjustments, but the Google Apps interface is fairly easy to use.  If you’d like to learn more about this product, contact me at charles@ctpensacola.com or call Charles at 850-375-0051.