Google Apps for Business

How Google Apps for Business Works

With Google's Web-based email, calendar and documents, you can work from anywhere. With dozens of critical security features, Google Apps will keep your data safe, secure and in your control.

Stay connected
Since all your work is automatically saved in the cloud, you can securely access email, calendar, documents, and sites from anywhere, on any web-enabled device.

Work better together
No matter where your team works, Google Apps makes collaborating easy. Share and edit docs, spreadsheets and presentations in real time. And because they are saved on the cloud, everyone is sure to have the latest version of any file.

Automatic updates
You and your team will always have the latest software, newest features and current security updates. There's no need to buy or maintain servers and everything can be managed from a single interface.

Go Green
Google Apps is powered by Google's energy-efficient data centers. That means you'll use less energy, reduce your business' carbon footprint and save money.

Easy Setup

1. Sign in to your Google Apps account
   Using any web browser, go to http://google.com/a/your_domain (use actual domain name). Then enter your Google Apps user name and password.
2. Set up your account
   Once signed into Google Apps, the Setup Wizard will automatically begin to guide you through the set up process, which takes about an hour. The Setup Wizard helps you verify your domain, add users, activate email accounts, set up mobile devices, migrate data and more.

Google Apps for Business lets you access email, calendar and documents anytime, anywhere.

Signing in to your Google Apps account

Using any web browser, go to http://google.com/a/your_domain (use actual domain name). Then enter your Google Apps user name (first part of email address being used) and password.

Changing password
Go to any Gmail page and click the gear icon ⚙ at the top right. Then click Mail settings, and open the Accounts and Import tab. In the Change account settings section, click Change password. In the new window, enter your current password and your new password.

Getting up to speed with Google Apps
You'll be sending and receiving mail, scheduling calendar events, and managing contacts in no time. Getting used to Gmail's unique mail management features like the conversations and labels features can take a little longer. But within about a week, most people find they are not only comfortable with Google Apps, but they really prefer the benefits versus their former application.

Can I open my email or calendar in new tab (not a new window)?
If you use the Chrome browser, links will open in new tabs by default. If you're using another browser, you can change the browser settings to open new tabs instead of new windows. In Internet Explorer, for example, go to Tools >Internet Options>Tabs>Settings, and click Let Internet Explorer choose how to open pop-ups.

Can I access Google Apps offline?
Yes, you can set up Gmail for offline access to your most recent email messages. To enable this feature, click Settings in the upper-right corner of your Mail window, click the Offline tab, and then click Enable Offline Mail for this computer. (Note, however, that if your Google Apps administrator has disabled offline access for your domain, the Offline tab won't be available and you won't be able to use this feature.)

Do I need to use my company's VPN to access Google Apps when I'm offsite?
No. In most cases, you can just go to you Google Apps URL to access your email and calendar, from any location. However, this might not be true if your company requires VPN access to Google Apps. In that case, if you're outside of your network, you must first connect to the VPN before you can access Google Apps.

Can I access my Google Apps account from another program?
Google Apps works great in any standard web browser. But you can access your account from other programs, too. Here are your choices:

• Microsoft Outlook:
  Access your Google Apps mail, contacts, and calendars from Microsoft Outlook using Google Apps Sync for Microsoft Outlook (available if your organization has purchased a Google Apps for Business or Education account).
• IMAP clients:
  You can also access Gmail from any of several other mail programs by setting them up as IMAP clients. These include Outlook, Outlook Express, Thunderbird, Windows Mail, Apple Mail, and more.
• POP clients:
  If your mail program can't be set up for IMAP, you can set it up as a POP client instead.

Requirements

Google Apps supports the following browsers:

• Google Chrome
• Internet Explorer 7+
• Mozilla Firefox 2.0+
• Apple Safari 3.0

Are there any other system requirements?
No. Because Google Apps runs in a web browser, you just need to use a supported browser.

Drives and Docs

What types of documents can I create in Google Docs?
You can create documents, spreadsheets, presentations, drawings, and forms.

Can I import files such as Microsoft Office documents into Google Docs?
Yes, you can import the following types of documents into Google Docs:

• Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx)
• Microsoft Excel (.xls, .xlsx)
• Microsoft PowerPoint (.ppt, .pps, .pptx)
• Rich Text (.rft)
• Plain text (.txt)
• HTML (.html)
• PDF (.pdf)
• Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop (.ai, .psd)
• Autodesk AutoCad (.dxf)
• Apple Pages (.PAGES)
• Scalable Vector Graphics (.SVG)
• PostScript (.EPS, .PS)
• TrueType (.TTF)
• XML Paper Specification (.XPS)
• Comma-separated values (.csv)
• Tab-separated values (.tsv)
• OpenDocument Text (.odt)
• OpenDocument Spreadsheet (.ods)
• StarOffice (.sxw)

Can I share documents I create in Google Docs with others outside of my domain?
Yes, if this option has been enabled by your Google Apps administrator. If it is, you can share any of your documents with customers, suppliers, and others outside of your domain.

Learn more about Google Apps for Business on our App Center ▶