Google Hosted or Gmail for your domain has been hailed as the killer app for those seeking an alternative to corporate groupware. After a short test of the service, it’s my opinion that they still have a very long way to go.

Pros of Google Hosted:

• slick Gmail web interface
• 2GB of storage space for each account
• Google Talk is a decent IM solution
• Google Calendar is a decent calendaring solution
• A control panel that allows you to add/remove accounts as well as create aliases

Cons of Google Hosted:

• Migration is clunky, the service doesn’t activate until it detects that you’ve changed MX records, this could mean some serious downtime!!
• Can’t set priority or confidentiality on outgoing mails like you can in Outlook
• A sending limit! Once you reach it, you can’t send any more! (… and this is supposed to be corporate?!)
• No customer support – want someone to help you? FORGET IT!

Here’s some screen shots of Gmail hosted for those of you who are curious:

In conclusion, Google Hosted is a step up for those users seeking an upgrade from POP3-type hosting. If you’re using IMAP4 or a groupware system like Microsoft Exchange, you’re not going to appreciate Gmail for your domain.