Anyone switch from Exchange to Google Apps for Business?

[ComputerPro]

For those that switched I just wondered if there were any issues or things about exchange you missed. I recently switched from an iphone 5 to a Galaxy Note 2 which I like very much. I am currently using exchange for email, calendaring etc. and wanted to try google apps for business as it would streamline with the android device better. Any thoughts?
thanks,

 

[TenYardFight]

Sorry I haven't, but I'm using Exchange and Android too. I'm curious what about Google apps would be more streamlined?

 

[ComputerPro]

Sorry I haven't, but I'm using Exchange and Android too. I'm curious what about Google apps would be more streamlined?

I've heard google now works better when it has more google products to refer to. I guess most of it is hearsay lol, as I haven't tried the google side of things yet outside of basic gmail stuff. I would assume that google's own stuff flows better on the android platform?

Just out of curiosity why use Exchange on your android? Are there any features you would lose by not using google stuff? Backwards to original question but would prob help me understand it better. I really don't want to switch and then have to switch back if at all possible.

Thanks,

 

[acscva]

What made you want to switch from iPhone 5 to Galaxy Note II? That thing has a huge screen!

We where just looking at switching from Verizon to either Straighttalk or Sprint as I am tired of paying $247 a month for 3 phones with Verizon. I have 2 iPhone 5 64GB's.....that are unlocked but can't seem to get anyone to guarantee that they can activate on another network. I saw some posts out there about that I could take to either Sprint or AT&T but no one seems to agree.

 

[ComputerPro]

I always praised the iphone and ragged on Android devices. The first ones I setup with exchange were horrible. Now with jelly bean they are very good.
One reason was screen size. I had trouble with the iphone reading stuff. I'm 45 lol so I'm at that reading glasses stage. Having played with a Galaxy 3 and other larger phones I was a bit jealous.
The other main reason was I always seemed to need a pen and piece of paper for one thing or another. The note 2 is the best of those worlds at the current time.
I've had it approx 3 weeks now and these are the things that stick out:

Very nice large screen.
Fast, smooth os
Much faster typing using the swipe stuff.
Widgets are very cool and convenient.
The pen is very handy.
Camera is amazing. The iphone 5 images are a tiny bit better but the note 2 camera is as fast as my nikon d300 which was $1600 bucks lol. I can take a bunch of photos in a sec or two.

All in all I think Android has finally caught up and surpassed ios.
I have the Otterbox case which makes it even bigger lol. But the grip is amazing and if it does drop it's well protected.
And it fits in my back jeans pocket. Barely but it does lol. That was the make or break.

 

[Paul Rodgers]

How is the Google Apps integration for iOS? We may be switching to that once our contract with Verizon is up for Fios.

 

[TenYardFight]

I've heard google now works better when it has more google products to refer to. I guess most of it is hearsay lol, as I haven't tried the google side of things yet outside of basic gmail stuff. I would assume that google's own stuff flows better on the android platform?

Just out of curiosity why use Exchange on your android? Are there any features you would lose by not using google stuff? Backwards to original question but would prob help me understand it better. I really don't want to switch and then have to switch back if at all possible.

Thanks,

I was using exchange before Android came out. I got a droid, hooked it to exchange, and never once felt like I was missing any functionality.

 

[pc-quebec]

you means office 365 or a plain access to an exchange server ? Google apps is the equivalent of office 365, not exchange.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Wanna have "THE BEST" e-mail client to e-mail server collaboration?

Stick with Exchange...and get the client app called "TouchDown", by Nitrodesk.

Agreed...the default corporate e-mail client with Androids...And iPhones...is very spartan and lacking.

Touchdown is a 1 time purchase through googles playstore...it's 18 or 19 bucks. It's worth 10 times that! It's very "Outlook" like.

 

[TenYardFight]

I knew you were coming with that recco, so I saved it for ya! Love touchdown.

 

[lcoughey]

I dropped my internal exchange server and migrated over to Google a couple of years ago. It was a great move, as far as I'm concerned. It integrates with my Galaxy S3 perfectly (as one would expect), but also works flawlessly with our Blackberries. We don't drink the iCoolAid here, so, I cannot speak to iPhone integration, but would imagine that it would be at least as good as the standard gmail support on iPhones.

 

[ComputerPro]

Stick with Exchange...and get the client app called "TouchDown", by Nitrodesk.

Stone, What are the reasons you like Exchange better than the Google solution?
Thanks

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Stone, What are the reasons you like Exchange better than the Google solution?
Thanks

For one thing...and one of the biggest things, our Exchange server...it's 100% ours. It's right across the hall from my office, in our server room...in our server cabinet. 100% in our control.

I have not look in a long time (at google apps)...but back then, you didn't have much flexibility in recipient policies. With Exchange...I can do all I wish with customizing recipient policies (adjusting multiple and different domain names for hosts on the server). As well as increased alias customization.

We focus on the medium to large side of "SMB"...and in those cases with our clients, they generally have an Exchange server onsite. We prefer to walk the walk and talk the talk.

Google Apps was hatched from GMail...a free e-mail service for home users. Exchange was designed for businesses/companies from the ground up. So it soars ahead in greatly desired features that (last I saw)....Google Apps still lacks. Stuff like:
*Functional Public folders
*Ease of Sharing of personal folders and components without using some convoluted 3rd party apps that usually doesn't work well and doesn't present via the web interface
*Granular security as to what user gets varying levels of access to what stuff...control that you get in Active Directory.

IMO, Google Apps has a place...for the very small part of SMB...the startups, still using workgroup networks, SOHO, etc. Basically businesses under 10 users. Which..while we'll take them on as clients, we seek larger businesses,

We're in business to make money...and Exchange earns us more..far more.