Google Inc. recently added new business-focused feature to its Google+. The added features include restricted posts, video Hangout integration with Google Calendar, and better administrative controls. The service is free until the end of 2013. Focusing on consumers, team at Google apps has added this feature to let consumers promote their business. The internet search giant is also working to add more administrative controls designed for organizations. With this feature, consumers can use Google+ for video chat and social networking. In an official Google Blog, Clay Bavor, Product Management Director, Google Apps said, “Today we’re launching an initial set of Google+ features designed specifically for businesses, and we’re excited to move into a full preview mode for Apps customers.” Bavor further said, “During this preview period, organizations that have gone Google will be able to use the business features of Google+ for free through the end of 2013 while we continue to add more features and administrative controls designed for organizations.” The first major feature, restricted posts will be private to organizations and won’t be re-shared outside business network. Users will also be able to share the post with people outside the organization as well. Next is Google+ Hangouts integration with Google Calendar. Google had already integrated Hangouts with Gmail and Docs. Now Google Apps users will be able to add Hangouts to events in their calendars, so that attendees can join a Hangout from the invite or Cal entry. Finally, Google has added better administrative controls to Google+. With this, admins will be able to set defaults and restrictions on what employees can do with Google+ posts. They can also set up restrictions on Google+ Hangouts to make video meetings private. Google also plans to add “a mobile version of Google+ for enterprise users and more administrative controls.”
