Geekzone reports that NZ universities are starting to move to Google Apps — where users have Gmail accounts, calendar, documents that they can access from any computer that’s connected to the Internet.

This is a tool that community groups should be thinking about, as Mike Riversdale explained so well in his workshop at the Hamilton Engage Your Community conference.

The benefits of Google Apps are clear: let Google do the heavy lifting of providing disc space, software, backups, anti-virus and anti-spam measures.

Google Apps is available to any individual, group, community organisation or business. Has your group used it? Leave a comment below with your experiences.

Google Apps Education Edition is a suite of Web-based applications that includes Gmail email services, Google Docs online documents, spreadsheets and presentations, Google Calendar shared calendaring, Google Talk instant messaging, Google Sites website creator and the Google Start Page feature for creating a customisable home page on a specific domain. With Google’s search technology built in, Google Apps enables students to easily sort through and find their emails and documents.

Students, staff and alumni at the University of Auckland will be able to access these applications on any computer with an internet connection, as well as share information and collaborate on work with classmates, colleagues and lecturers.

… This shift to Google Apps and online services by New Zealand Universities is part of a trend of schools and businesses embracing “cloud computing” - a move to web-based applications that allows for greater collaboration and access to information. By freeing up IT resources, cloud computing empowers schools to focus on education, rather than IT administration.

[Via : University of Auckland to roll out Google Apps for 50,000 users.]

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