Google announced they have dropped the free version of Google Apps For Business. Previously, Google Apps for Business had two versions: (1) A free version that mimicked the same feature set and size requirements of a free Gmail account. (2) A paid version with larger storage, better support and more features. Now, Google Apps for Business is only offering the paid version. I should note, those businesses using Google Apps for free can still use it for free. Google is not forcing existing users to the paid version but any new business trying to sign up today will not be able to g [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Industry | Google: Accounts & Profiles | Google: Business Issues

Two NBA teams with Google+ brand pages are adding about 10,000 new followers/circlers per day since being added to Google's official suggested users list. The suggested users list is shown to new Google+ users during the sign-up process, and can also be seen by existing users at this URL: plus.google.com/getstarted/follow. At the moment, Google suggests about 300 different accounts across categories like Entertainment, Music, News, Politics and Sports. The suggested user lists aren't new, but at least a couple NBA teams are apparently new to appearing on it -- the Portland Trail Blazers [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Strategy | Google: Accounts & Profiles | Google: Google+ | Social Media Marketing | Statistics: Popularity & Usage | Top News

That was quick. Google has already replied to several questions from Congress about the new, combined privacy policy that the company announced a week ago today. But in its letter, Google may not be giving Congress a good enough answer on lawmakers' main question about users being able to opt-out. Members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee said last week that Google's announcement ...raises concerns about whether consumers can opt-out of this new data sharing system. Pablo Chavez, Google's director of public policy, begins his response to Congress by reframing the question: [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Industry | Google: Accounts & Profiles | Google: Legal | Google: Privacy | Legal: Privacy | Top News

Is Google facing an angry backlash of users canceling accounts in response to Google’s new terms of service & privacy policy? It will if respondents to a Washington Post poll are a reliable barometer. With more than 14,000 people responding, nearly two-thirds said they would cancel their Google account, with 15% saying no and just under 20% not sure. Look at other indicators of customer outrage, however, and the picture isn't so clear. For example, instructions on how to delete a Google account aren't appearing as a hot search on Google trends. Nor are they appearing as an auto-complet [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Consumer | Google: Accounts & Profiles | Legal: Privacy

As promised last fall, Google says it will soon begin allowing pseudonyms and alternate names on Google+. Google+ VP Bradley Horowitz announced the changes this afternoon, explaining two primary changes to the company's name policy: Google will begin "updating its policies and procedures" related to established pseudonyms (like Madonna). Google may flag a profile with a pseudonym, but the user will have an opportunity to provide evidence confirming that it's an established pseudonym. This may include press/media mentions of the pseudonym, official documents or even "proof of an establi [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Social Media | Google: Accounts & Profiles | Google: Google+ | Legal: Privacy | Top News

Haven't finished filling out your Google+ profile yet? Maybe thinking you don't want to? Or don't need to? Well, Google really wants you to fix that. And the next time you Google yourself, they're gonna start to bug you about it. Right there in the search results for your name. As Drew Olanoff writes on The Next Web, Google has begun nagging people who haven't finished their profiles with a new message that shows up on vanity searches. The can't-be-missed message tells how much of the profile is completed and includes a link to remedy the situation post-haste. Here's what it looks like f [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Social Media | Google: Accounts & Profiles | Google: Google+

Whether are looking to create a new account for YouTube, Gmail, or any other Google product, new Google users are facing a new requirement.  The creation of a Google+ enabled profile with any account.  The unofficial Google Operating System blog pointed out the new Google form that requires any new user to sign up for both the social network, and a Gmail account.  Previously, an existing email address or setting up a Gmail account would allow users to set up an official Google Account.  Now a name, Gmail username, Google+ account and gender are required: This new form also has this [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Social Media | Google | Google: Accounts & Profiles | Google: Google+ | Top News

Earlier this week, TechCrunch writer MG Siegler's Google+ profile pic vanished without explanation. The profile picture featured MG looking away from the camera with middle finger extended (seen here).  After thinking it may have been a bug, the photo was uploaded again, and once again removed - this time with the following message from a Googler: As the first point of interaction with a user’s profile, all profile photos on Google+ are reviewed to make sure they are in line with our User Content and Conduct Policy. Our policy page states, “Your Profile Picture cannot include mature or o [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Social Media | Google | Google: Accounts & Profiles | Google: Google+ | Top News