Despite Google recently standardising its offerings and removing its free Google Apps service for small teams of under 10 users, £33 per user per year is still a pretty sweet deal and, it has just become sweeter, at least for owners of Apple's iPad.
Google has just launched a new version of Quickoffice for the iPad, free to Google Apps For Business users, the first fruit to fall from a buyout back in June. Quickoffice is a premium product, priced at $20 for tablets and $15 for smartphones and has been reviewed as one of the best office applications for both Apple iOS and Android platforms, offering a clean and simple to use interface.
Fully integrated into Google Drive, this application allows for full editing of Text, Word, Excel and PowerPoint 1997 to 2010 formats, along with conversion to PDF and compatibility with iOS AirPrint. There are some nice fine touches as well, such as a virtual laser pointer when delivering a presentation.
Google promises that this free application will be coming to the iPhone and of course, Android devices shortly. Once rolled-out, the firm will have undeniably added serious value to its Apps for Business service, potentially providing a $20 (or even $20+$15) piece of software to its users, along with a view to receiving free upgrades for as long as they use the service.