28th April 2009
Is this the first sign of Google going against its motto of 'Don't be evil'?
On the Google Apps sign-up page, the standard (free) version has been hidden under a large button which directs people to the paid-for premium edition.
This may not seem like a big deal, but Google prides itself on not being evil. Here, the hiding of the free version beneath a button where users can trial the paid-for version seems a little out of character and marginally dishonest.
Google offers 2 flavours of Google Apps. 'Standard' which is free and 'Premium' which costs $50 a year and offers additional features such as email archiving, removal of ad and email and phone support.
To find the free version, a user would need to look past the large blue button and click the link which states 'Explore Standard Edition'.