Moving e-mail to Google apps trims costs, improves services

  • January 6, 2010
  • By Dan Bellone

In a move to trim costs and improve information technology services, employee e-mail is moving from a Microsoft-based e-mail exchange to a Google service, said CSUEB Chief Information Officer John Charles. Student e-mail switched to the new service in 2008. E-mail addresses used by university students and personnel will remain unchanged.

Transitioning student, staff and faculty members’ e-mail accounts to the Google Apps for Education Suite is expected to save the university more than $100,000 annually. The change also will give faculty and staff members access to more advanced Web-based collaboration services, such as Google Docs which allows multiple users to create, share, view and edit word processing documents, spreadsheets, forms and presentations in real time.

“Google Apps is a resources-multiplier for Cal State East Bay; it dramatically increases the level of service –– storage, reliability, and security –– enjoyed by faculty, staff and students, while it dramatically reduces the university's information technology cost structure,” Charles said.

Cal State East Bay is the first campus in the California State University system to move to Google Apps.

“In true Pioneer spirit, Cal State East Bay students were the first in the CSU to move to Google Apps,” Charles said. “Likewise, Cal State East Bay faculty and staff will be the first CSU faculty and  staff to move to Google Apps.” 

Google Apps features include Gmail and contacts, Google Calendar, Google Talk (a chat function), Google Docs and Google Sites (a Web site creation tool with videos, images, gadgets and documents integration). Google Apps will be rolled out in phases, as described below:

• Gmail and contacts, Google Calendar, and Google Talk will begin migration starting at 5 p.m. Jan. 29, and will be completed by 8 a.m. Feb. 1
• Google Docs will be launched March 11
• Google Sites will be launched April 22
• E-mail, calendar, and contacts will be automatically migrated with the move to Google Apps.

Learn more about the Cal State East Bay Google Apps migration and find FAQs and video tutorials at .