Journal Daengbo's Journal: The End of the "Google Apps in Permanent Beta" FUD 1
I get tired of this line: "Businesses refuse to base their systems on beta software so Google Apps will never make it into the enterprise." It comes up twenty times every Gmail or Google Docs article on Slashdot. I think it must be an MS talking point.
Let's look at the facts, eh?
The Standard Edition ToS: This is the free version and paragraph 15 limits liability extensively and declares
Let's look at the facts, eh?
The Standard Edition ToS: This is the free version and paragraph 15 limits liability extensively and declares
THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED WITHOUT CHARGE FOR BETA TESTING PURPOSES ONLY AND THE PARTIES AGREE THAT THE FOREGOING LIMITATIONS REPRESENT A REASONABLE ALLOCATION OF RISK UNDER THIS AGREEMENT.
The Premium Edition ToS: This is the supported version and the limits on liabilities are fewer (para. 14) and the word "beta" isn't mentioned anywhere in the contract.
Limitation of Liability.
- 14.1 Limitation on Indirect Liability. NEITHER PARTY WILL BE LIABLE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT FOR LOST REVENUES OR INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, EVEN IF THE PARTY KNEW OR SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT SUCH DAMAGES WERE POSSIBLE AND EVEN IF DIRECT DAMAGES DO NOT SATISFY A REMEDY.
- 14.2 Limitation on Amount of Liability. NEITHER PARTY MAY BE HELD LIABLE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT FOR MORE THAN THE AMOUNT PAID BY CUSTOMER TO GOOGLE DURING THE TWELVE MONTHS PRIOR TO THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO LIABILITY.
- 14.3 Exceptions to Limitations. These limitations of liability do not apply to breaches of confidentiality obligations, violations of a party's Intellectual Property Rights by the other party, or indemnification obligations.
The Education Edition ToS: This is the version free for schools. Paragraph 13 is identical to Premium's Paragraph 14.
The summary?
- The Standard Edition is free, beta, and has new features.
- The Business Edition isn't beta and it has a more conservative feature set.
- The Education Edition isn't beta, either, and is basically identical to the Business Edition.
Thank you for you time. That is all.
Yes... (Score:1)
I know.... I did some research on a Web 2.0 bid last year and it's exactly what I found out. Besides, isn't the general public used to beta-quality software thanks to a certain large software company[1]? ;-)
[1] To be fair, one can see any Linux as a permanent Beta too. Especially considering the problems I had with Ubuntu 8.04 LTS.