Google Apps gets scheduled updates

One of the SaaS advantages over in-house apps is that SaaS applications are updated by providers on their own and users don't have to bother about how to install patches or new versions. But such scheme has also an obvious drawback - update occurs when the provider decides, but not when the user wants. And if the user doesn't read provider's blog and ignores his emails with update announcements, these updates can happen very unexpectedly and disrupt the normal functioning of the company. Most SaaS providers that serve large companies (like Salesforce), prefer to do only 3-4 (major) updates per year. They call these update "new versions", announce them long before the release and make a show for their presentation. Another story with Google Apps which silently updates almost every week - that is Google's philosophy.

But since Google Apps is already used by many large companies, Google has decided to find a compromise with these updates. From now Google Apps users can (in admin panel) select one of the options: Rapid Release or Scheduled Release. If the second option is selected, the new features will appear one time per week, and users will be provided with the new features list at least one week before their appearance. Thus they will have time to prepare, email to Google's support and accept the changes. Also, now the schedule of future updates is available on a special site with online calendar.

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