Google Apps Turns Documents Into Discussions
One of the biggest bullet-points cloud productivity tool vendors always include in their pitch is “easy collaboration,” thanks to an ability to invite other users and edit a document in concert. Now Google Apps is looking to increase the value of that collaboration with a revamped commenting system for Google Docs that turns each document into a conversation. And as a special bonus, the new feature evokes memories of a Google product long thought dead.
According to the Google Enterprise Blog entry, the new discussions feature is designed to keep users from getting mired in comments and make sure the right feedback gets to the right parties. Comments are timestamped and attached to a profile picture. And users can have discussion updates sent to their e-mail, with e-mail replies to said message appearing as part of the discussion, making sure everyone’s kept up to date.
Judging by Google’s demo video, it all seems to be vaguely evocative of the not-much-missed Google Wave solution, which also sought to combine instant messaging, productivity, and e-mail.
The new feature is available to all Google Apps Enterprise Edition customers on the Rapid Release upgrade track, presumably meaning a Scheduled Release update in a week or so. Consumer users of Google Apps should already have the new feature.
For Google end-users, this Google Docs update could indeed boost productivity and collaboration. And that by itself is potentially good news for Google resellers.
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