Starting May 10, 2011 Google will only allow the creation of 10 free Google Apps email accounts for those wanting to use Google Apps (Free), formally known as Standard Google Apps. For those of you who already have Google Apps then “you’re grandfathered” in at your existing number of user or email accounts.
For those of you who need more than 10 separate email or user accounts, then the only option would be to upgrade to a Google Apps Business Solution (formally known as Google Apps Premiere Accounts). Note that you cannot “upgrade” just one email account, this is because Google Apps is tied to the domain name and not individual email or user accounts. Let’s assume you switched to Google Apps after May 10th or 2011. You currently have 10 separate email accounts using your domain name and you wish to add an 11th email account. To do so you would have to upgrade to a Google Apps Business Solution which means the cost would jump from free to 11 X $50.00 per year or $550.00 per year.
Google has also introduced a monthly payment plan a well. Here is a link to get the full details on Google Apps Business Solution Pricing.
So for those of you who got setup with Google Apps email prior to May 10th – Congratulations!
For those of who who didn’t, Google Apps is still by far the best email solution on Earth.
Thank you for the heads up. I managed to get Google Apps set up for my domain name prior to 5/10/11. Your post made me nervous and I just logged in to my Google Apps Dashboard and sure enough it says I have 50 email accounts and can create up to 42 more. Whew!!!
I have two other domain names which are set up as Domain Name Aliases of primary domain name. If I remove these two domain names as aliases, would I still be entitled to receive more that 10 email accounts for each other these two ancillary domains?
Hi Claire – Great question. The answer is no. In order to have taken advantage of the 50 free user or email accounts Google was offering, you needed to have setup your other two domain names with Google Apps. Just because they were setup as domain name aliases doesn’t mean that they were actual Google Apps accounts. Unfortunately if you wanted Google Apps for your two other domains, you’d first have to remove them as domain name aliases, then wait for up to 5 days. After 5 days have past, you can then go through the process of setting them up with their own Google Apps account. Keep in mind however that you’ll only receive 10 free user or email accounts from here on out. I hope this answers your question.
Hello,
I need an advice if you happen to be familiar with a particular situation.
I set up a Standard Google Apps account prior to the downgrade so my domain still has 50 mail accounts, the problem is that I used a secondary domain as a test (which is hosted at the same server) and I wanted to switch Google Apps to the official domain. If I go to my Google Apps control panel and domain confirmation area, I’m presented with a question like this:
With which domain you signed up?
* My primary domain where my users receive e-mails
* Another domain, as a test
Assuming I select “Another domain, as a test”, the following is asked:
What do you want to do?
* Cancel the current account and start over with my primary domain; – Recommended
* Continue with a secondary domain and keep the current configuration
I’m preety sure that if I select “Cancel the current account and start over with my primary domain” I’ll be downgraded and lose this 50 account bonus. But not 100% sure… what do you think, I’m really not wanting to risk it….
Thanks for the reply.