Google Apps Free Edition reduces max number of users

Google just announced that from May 10th, 2011, their Google Apps free edition maximum number of users free limit has been reduced from 50 to 10 and more flexible billing changes to their pricing policy for additional Google App free user accounts beyond the first free 10 users.

While I have transferred some of my domains’ mail servers over to Google Apps free edition, still have a few domains on the to do list. Guess it’s time to move them over before May 10th.

Google Apps new flexible billing options:

First, for customers who sign up online we’re adding the Flexible Plan, a new $5 per user per month pricing option which requires no contractual commitment – one of the most flexible plans in the industry today. With this plan, businesses can add or remove users as necessary and will automatically be billed for the proper amount. We’ll continue to offer the current pricing option – $50 per user per year with a one-year commitment – as the Annual Plan.

Second, we’re eliminating upfront payments for new customers to make it easier for them to manage their cash flow. Whether they choose the Flexible or Annual Plan, customers will pay at the end of each month. We’ll also begin to offer direct debit in the US, UK, Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, and Spain to make payment even easier.

Over the course of the next few months, we’ll also make these billing options available to our many reseller partners.

The email I just received:

Hello,
We recently announced upcoming changes to the maximum number of users for Google Apps. We want to let you know that, as a current customer, the changes will not affect you.

As of May 10, any organisation that signs up for a new account will be required to use the paid Google Apps for Business product in order to create more than 10 users. We honor our commitment to all existing customers and will allow you to add more than 10 users to your account for mysite.com at no additional charge, based on the limit in place when you joined us.

Sincerely,
The Google Apps Team