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Tag: Google Workspace

  • Google Adds Generative-AI to Google Workspace

    Google Adds Generative-AI to Google Workspace

    Google is bringing generative-AI to Google Workspace, continuing its efforts to catch up to Microsoft.

    Google Workspace is the most popular cloud-based office suite and the company is looking to improve it even more with generative-AI.

    We’re now making it possible for Workspace users to harness the power of generative AI to create, connect, and collaborate like never before. To start, we’re introducing a first set of AI-powered writing features in Docs and Gmail to trusted testers.

    AI will help users by generating drafts and helping them overcome the dreaded “blank page:”

    Blank pages can stump the best of us. That’s why we’re embedding generative AI in Docs and Gmail to help people get started writing. Whether you’re a busy HR professional who needs to create customized job descriptions, or a parent drafting the invitation for your child’s pirate-themed birthday party, Workspace saves you the time and effort of writing that first version. Simply type a topic you’d like to write about, and a draft will instantly be generated for you. With your collaborative AI partner you can continue to refine and edit, getting more suggestions as needed.

    The AI will also be able to help users rewrite work to make it more appropriate for the intended purpose:

    Finding the right tone and style can also be tricky at times. Perhaps you’re applying for a new job, or writing to a new supplier in a more traditional industry, and you need to adopt a more formal tone in your email. Or you’ve jotted down a few bullets on your phone from a recent meeting and want to transform them into a more polished summary to share with your team. For these common scenarios and many more, we’re adding new generative AI capabilities to help you rewrite. And if you’re in the mood to let AI try out a new playful voice altogether, you’ll be able to hit the “I’m feeling lucky” option in Gmail.

    Interestingly, while Google is clearly working to catch up in the AI game, the company is also trying to establish itself as a responsible AI company:

    As we’ve experimented with generative AI ourselves, one thing is clear: AI is no replacement for the ingenuity, creativity, and smarts of real people. Sometimes the AI gets things wrong, sometimes it delights you with something offbeat, and oftentimes it requires guidance. With all this in mind, we’re designing our products in accordance with Google’s AI Principles that keep the user in control, letting AI make suggestions that you’re able to accept, edit, and change. We’ll also deliver the corresponding administrative controls so that IT is able to set the right policies for their organization.

  • Google Workspace Finishes Client-Side Encryption Rollout

    Google Workspace Finishes Client-Side Encryption Rollout

    Google has taken a major step toward improving privacy and security for Workspace users, rolling out client-side encryption (CSE).

    CSE is an integral part of a complete security approach since it ensures that only the owner can decrypt and view their own data. Google already deployed CSE for Drive, Docs, Slides, Sheets, and Meet last year, but is now finishing the rollout by bringing it to Gmail and Calendar.

    Writing in a blog post, Google Workspace Director of Product Management Andy Wen and Product Manager Ganesh Chilakapati, outline how CSE compliments the privacy and security features already present in Workspace:

    Workspace already encrypts data at rest and in transit by using secure-by-design cryptographic libraries. Client-side encryption takes this encryption capability to the next level by ensuring that customers have sole control over their encryption keys — and thus complete control over all access to their data. Starting today, users can send and receive emails or create meeting events with internal colleagues and external parties, knowing that their sensitive data (including inline images and attachments) has been encrypted before it reaches Google servers.

    Remaining compliant with various regulations is a key benefit of CSE:

    Users can continue to collaborate across other essential apps in Google Workspace while IT and security teams can ensure that sensitive data stays compliant with regulations. As customers retain control over the encryption keys and the identity management service to access those keys, sensitive data is indecipherable to Google and other external entities.

    The rollout of CSE could help Google make significant headway, especially in those markets that require heightened security:

    “We have been searching for the capability to guarantee that our encrypted communications remain inaccessible to third-parties, including our technology providers, for some time. Google appears to be uniquely positioned with client-side encryption in providing us with complete control over our sensitive data, ensuring that we remain compliant as an organization in the ever changing world of data regulation. These features now being available across Google Workspace represent a pivotal moment for us. We’re enthusiastic about the ability to continue to benefit from the efficiency in working that Workspace provides us with, whilst at the same time maintaining trust with our customers that their confidential data will stay private and compliant,” said Shaun Bookham, UK Operations & Technology Director at PwC.

  • Google Docs Adds Option to See Non-Printing Characters

    Google Docs Adds Option to See Non-Printing Characters

    Google Docs has added an important feature to help fine-tune the layout of documents with the option to view non-printing characters.

    In complex documents, non-printing characters are often important elements that help establish the layout and visual characteristics of a document. Line breaks, page breaks, tabs, and spaces are just a few such characters.

    In the latest update to Google Docs, users now have the option of seeing non-printing characters.

    “When viewing or editing a Google Doc, non-printing characters such as line breaks, section breaks, tabs, and spaces are not visible,” the company writes in a blog post. “Starting today, you can choose to display non-printing characters in order to see how a document is laid out.”

    “This feature provides a visual representation of what controls the formatting in a document, allowing you to make appropriate edits much easier,” the company adds.

  • France Shoots Down Free Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace in School

    France Shoots Down Free Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace in School

    France has shot down the possibility of schools using free versions of Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace.

    Schools around the world rely on Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, since both productivity options provide commercial-grade features for free, especially for schools. As part of the EU, France is concerned the productivity suites are not compatible with EU privacy laws and run afoul of French procurement laws, since there is no payment exchanged.

    “Free service offers are therefore, in principle, excluded from the scope of public procurement,” the Ministry of National Education statement says, according to The Register.

    Moving to the paid versions of both productivity suites only solves one potential problem, namely the procurement issue, with data privacy still being a major sticking point.

    The EU has been cracking down on the use of US-based cloud services that store user data within the US. Because of the vast surveillance programs US agencies engage in, the EU does not deem US-based data storage as a safe option for its citizens.

  • Gmail Integrated View Will Become Standard by End of November

    Gmail Integrated View Will Become Standard by End of November

    Google has announced that its “integrated view” will become the standard at the end of the month, with no option to switch back.

    Google introduced its integrated view, one that pulls together Gmail, Google Chat, Google Meet, and Spaces. Users who were not fans of the change have had the option to continue using the existing layout, but Google plans to make integrated view standard by the end of the month.

    The company announced the change in a Google Workspace blog post:

    This will become the standard experience for Gmail, with no option to revert back.

    The company makes clear its intention to continue developing integrated view and adding features:

    When enabled, the new navigation menu allows you to easily switch between your inbox, important conversations, and join meetings without having to switch between tabs or open a new window. Notification bubbles make it easy to stay on top of what immediately needs your attention. When working in Chat and Spaces, you can view a full list of conversations and Spaces within a single screen, making it easier to navigate to and engage. When working in your inbox, you’ll be able to view the full array of Mail and Label options currently available in Gmail today. In the coming months, you will also see email and chat results when using the search bar, making it easier to find what you need by eliminating the need to search within a specific product.

  • Google Workspace Individual Accounts Are Getting a Big Storage Upgrade

    Google Workspace Individual Accounts Are Getting a Big Storage Upgrade

    Google is giving Workspace Individual accounts a major upgrade, adding additional storage, mail merge, and new regions.

    According to the company’s blog, users will seen an upgrade from 15 GB of storage to 1 TB:

    Soon every Google Workspace Individual account will come with 1 TB of secure cloud storage. You don’t have to lift a finger to get the upgraded storage: Every account will be automatically upgraded from their existing 15 GB of storage to 1 TB as we roll this out.

    Customers will also benefit from personalized email with built-in mail merge:

    Now you can add mail merge tags like @firstname to multi-send emails, so each recipient receives a unique email that feels individually crafted just for them. By default, multi-send emails also include an unsubscribe link so recipients can opt out of future messages.

    Google is expanding Workspace Individual account support to new regions around the world:

    We’re also launching Google Workspace Individual in a number of new countries and regions: the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, the Netherlands, Portugal, Belgium, Finland, Greece and Argentina. These new countries join a growing list of places business owners can sign up for Workspace Individual, including the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Japan, Australia and six countries across Europe.

    Users can sign up for a 14-day free trial here.

  • Google Cloud Scores US Army As Google Workspace Customer

    Google Cloud Scores US Army As Google Workspace Customer

    Google Cloud scored a major win in the cloud market as the US Army chooses Google Workspace for online collaboration.

    Google Workspace is the company’s suite of tools that compete with Microsoft 365. Google recently announced Google Public Sector, a new division aimed at helping government agencies and organizations adopt the company’s cloud services.

    According to Will Grannis, Google Public Sector CEO, the US Army plans to deploy Google Workspace to 250,000 personnel.

    Today, I’m proud to announce one of our first big partnerships following the launch of this new subsidiary, as Google Public Sector will provide up to 250,000 active-duty Army personnel of the U.S. Army workforce with the Google Workspace. The government has asked for more choice in cloud vendors who can support its missions, and Google Workspace will equip today’s military with a leading suite of collaboration tools to get their work done.

    The contract is a big win for Google Cloud and will no doubt pave the way for other public organizations to follow suit.

  • Zoom May Be Planning Email and Calendar Tools to Take On Office and Google

    Zoom May Be Planning Email and Calendar Tools to Take On Office and Google

    Zoom may be ready to move beyond video calling and collaboration, with possible plans to introduce email and calendar tools.

    Zoom is one of the leading communication platforms. Adoption of the company’s service expanded dramatically during the pandemic, and Zoom has been looking for ways to keep that momentum going and build on its existing base. According to The Information, via The Verge, the company may be planning to introduce email and calendar tools to better compete with Microsoft Office and Google Workspace.

    In many ways, the move makes sense. Slack was once the undisputed king of corporate messaging but has seen its user base eclipsed by Microsoft Teams. Much of that is due to the integration Teams offers with the rest of the Office suite. Zoom is no doubt keen to build out its own ecosystem, which would go a long way toward fending off defections to Teams or Google Meet.

    According to the report, the new features could launch as early as later this year. Needless to say, Zoom’s battle will just be getting started with the launch of those features, as neither Microsoft nor Google will take a challenge to their business lying down.

    Despite the difficulty in going up against Microsoft and Google, however, it be exactly what Zoom needs to do in order to evolve and stay relevant.

  • Google Will Now Allow Legacy G Suite Users to Upgrade to Free Accounts

    Google Will Now Allow Legacy G Suite Users to Upgrade to Free Accounts

    Google is backing down after igniting a firestorm, and will not force free, legacy G Suite accounts to upgrade to paid Google Workspace plans.

    Google allows individuals and businesses to use its services in concert with their own domain name. This means they can have an email that ends in their domain name, rather than @gmail.com. For years, it was possible to sign up for this service, called G Suite, for free.

    Eventually Google renamed the service to Google Workspace and ended the free accounts, although existing accounts were grandfathered in. Unfortunately, last week the company said it was killing off all free accounts, and users would have to migrate to a paid Workspace account or lose their account altogether.

    Needless to say, Google’s plans went over like a lead balloon and the company is finally backing down. In a new support page section, the company is now giving individuals the option to move to another free account.

    In the coming months, we’ll provide an option for you to move your non-Google Workspace paid content and most of your data to a no-cost option. This new option won’t include premium features like custom email or multi-account management. You’ll be able to evaluate this option prior to July 1, 2022 and prior to account suspension. We’ll update this article with details in the coming months.

    The change of plans is no doubt welcome news to remaining G Suite users.

  • Unisys Becomes Google Cloud and Google Workspace Resell Partner

    Unisys Becomes Google Cloud and Google Workspace Resell Partner

    Unisys has joined the Google Cloud Partner Advantage Program, becoming a Google Cloud and Google Workspace Resell Partner.

    Unisys is a leading provider of cloud and infrastructure services, as well as high-intensity enterprise computing, business process solutions and software development. 

    Becoming a Google Cloud Partner will enable the company to deliver end-to-end solutions for its Google Cloud customers, while being a Google Workspace reseller will help Unisys assist its clients in making the most of Google Cloud.

    “Unisys is excited about what joining the Google Cloud Partner Advantage Program means for our current and future clients. It allows us to broaden our capabilities focused on accelerating and securing their hybrid- and multi-cloud journeys,” said Mike Morrison, senior vice president and general manager, Cloud and Infrastructure, Unisys.

  • Google Drive and YouTube Links Impacted by Google Security Changes

    Google Drive and YouTube Links Impacted by Google Security Changes

    A Google security update is about to impact Google Drive and YouTube public links, including Unlisted ones.

    Google Drive and YouTube both use links to share files and videos. In the case of YouTube, Unlisted videos are publicly available, but not indexed by the platform’s search. As a result, a link is needed to access the video.

    Google has been working to improve the security of its sharing links, and the improved security will lead to some of those old links breaking. The company highlighted the changes to Google Drive on its Google Workspace blog.

    This security update is being applied to some files in Google Drive to make sharing links more secure. The update will add a resource key to sharing links. Once the update has been applied to a file, users who haven’t viewed the file before will have to use a URL containing the resource key to gain access, and those who have viewed the file before or have direct access will not need the resource key to access the file.

    Admins can use Google’s Help Center to learn more about the update, its impacts and how to manage it across an organization.

    Similarly, YouTube outlined how Unlisted video links will be impacted.

    As part of these changes, Unlisted videos uploaded before 2017 will be made Private starting on July 23, 2021. We are also giving creators the option to opt out of this security update and keep their videos in their current state if they prefer. If you have a video that is impacted by this change, we’ll notify you directly.

    Users will have the option of opting out, using this form, by July 23, 2021. Alternatively, users can re-upload their video as Unlisted, switch them to Public or simply let them go Private when the change takes place.

  • Google Updates Workspace and Google Assistant for Remote Work

    Google Updates Workspace and Google Assistant for Remote Work

    Google has made significant updates to Workspace and Google Assistant to better facilitate remote and hybrid work models.

    Google is the latest company to bet on the permanent digital transformation the pandemic has brought on. Citing Gartner’sresearch that 90% of companies plan to allow at least some remote work post-pandemic, Google clearly wants Workspace (formerly G Suite) to play a significant role in that new reality.

    Google Workspace is at the nexus of Google’s own transformation. After all, Google Workspace was built in the cloud to power flexible, real-time, anywhere creation and equitable collaboration.

    To aid in the digital transformation, Google will be launching Google Workspace Frontline to help frontline workers have access to the same kind of collaborative tools that knowledge workers enjoy. The new solution will include Gmail, Chat, Docs, Drive and more in a custom solution designed to meet the needs of frontline workers.

    In addition, Workspace with Google Assistant is now generally available to all users. The service brings the power of Google Assistant to Workspace, allowing users to join meetings, check their schedule, send messages and more, all by using their voice. The feature is currently available on mobile devices, and is in beta for smart speakers and Smart Displays.

    If there’s a mantra that captures the last year of work, it might be “flexibility in the face of change.” It’s how our customers and our own employees have bridged the physical distances to continue making an impact in a rapidly changing world. As work continues to evolve for all of us, Google Workspace is committed to providing a solution that’s flexible, helpful, and that fuels innovation. We’re also committed to enabling collaboration equity wherever and however we can. At its core, this has been our mission for more than a decade and we’re excited to partner with our customers and users to continue bringing it to life.

  • Zoom Planning Big Moves Against Microsoft and Google

    Zoom Planning Big Moves Against Microsoft and Google

    Zoom has experienced meteoric growth as a result of the pandemic, but it isn’t resting on its laurels as it plans to take on Microsoft and Google.

    Prior to the pandemic, Zoom was primarily an enterprise service, but its popularity has broadened significantly. Now the platform is used, not only for business and enterprise, but for remote schooling, religious services and socialization.

    The company is planning to capitalize on its success, moving into areas traditionally dominated by Microsoft and Google. According to The Information, Zoom is planning to launch email and calendar services. This would the put the company in direction competition with Microsoft Outlook, as well as Google Workspace.

    Zoom is expected to make the email service available to some customers as soon as next year, although there is less information on the calendar service. The company has also been hiring for positions involving integration with third-party services, such as Dropbox and Asana.

    Should The Information’s sources be correct, this would represent a significant move for Zoom and would likely be a big win, especially if the company can offer a well-integrated, comprehensive experience.