WebProNews

Registered non-profit organizations in the United States will be able to use the Google Apps Education Edition for their communication needs.

Google Extends Apps To Non-Profits

When Google first introduced the Education Edition of its Google Apps, it looked like a natural fit for non-profits. It took a while for Google to extend the service to non-profit organizations under the same no-cost terms, but they have finally done so.

Google Enterprise product director Matthew Glotzbach said on the official Google blog the program would be extended to non-profit organizations. Google disclosed the extension as it hosted an event for members of the Nonprofit Technology Network.

The Google Apps bundle of services has been available for small businesses, private groups and families, and of course enterprises for some time. Educational and now non-profit participants have access to the premium version of it at no additional cost.

Several Google products have been integrated into Google Apps, including ones for communication and productivity. It's been suggested that Google could eventually have enough features in Apps to present a challenge to Microsoft and its Office suite.

Google has characterized its products as being targeted toward a different audience than Microsoft. But if a free Google Apps option nudges education and non-profit organizations to choose it over a low-cost Microsoft education software option, the effect will be one of a competitor grabbing market share.