Convince Business Need of Google Apps (Gmail)

[labon210]

I've been using Google Apps for my computer repair shop for 6 months now and have decided to offer it to my customers as well.

My one client has a small business with 5-8 users and currently they use the email service from the host of their website.
Current email details:
POP3 (no IMAP capability)
No SSL POP Encryption
No Encryption for SMTP
Most of the office has a smartphone but currently their is no way for them to wirelessly sync their contacts/calendar from PC to phone--and their email is POP is it isn't "synced" either.

I think I have them convinced with the calendar/contact wireless syncing alone but for extra firepower I wanted to mention that their email is not encrypted and could potentially be viewed by a hacker on their network.

So I thought I'd be a genius and I connect to their network (with permission of course) and be able to view their emails. It didn't work though. I used SmartSniff and I could see packets being sent but non from their email. I checked the ports and they were 110 for POP and 25 for SMTP.

They would take me at my word that their emails could be viewed for malicious intent but I preferred to show them since that would be more convincing. So what am I missing doesn't SmartSniff have the capability to sniff emails? What could I use instead.

By the way Google Premier Accounts now have access to Google Voice.

 

[Thedog]

I would never (even if I could) sniff up their e-mail to show them. Just tell them there is a reason for why all big companies use encryption and it is a security risk to send unencrypted.

Selling Google apps to a small company currently using unencrypted pop3-servers from some small hosting company should be like selling cake to a fat person, easy...

 

[MobileTechie]

I think if you're being honest, the chances of their email being intercepted and used against them is pretty damned low. I'd be pushing for the other reasons.

 

[mraikes]

I think if you're being honest, the chances of their email being intercepted and used against them is pretty damned low. I'd be pushing for the other reasons.

I second that. Lack of encryption is worth mentioning, but will rarely be a significant motivator for a small business.

You have to base the case on convenience, saving money, increased productivity, etc. Things that hit the owner's wallet.

 

[14049752]

I was pushing for one of my clients to get setup for a long time. Here are the reasons that finally got them to switch:

1. Shared calendar access without Exchange, from any computer.
2. E-mail, from anywhere and on their phone.
3. No viruses (this was a big one. I even told them that it'd mean that I'd be doing less work for them)
4. At the time, they had all sorts of problems with ATT e-mail. Google Apps solved all of the problems

 

[labon210]

Cost...

I second that. Lack of encryption is worth mentioning, but will rarely be a significant motivator for a small business.

You have to base the case on convenience, saving money, increased productivity, etc. Things that hit the owner's wallet.

The cost factor is what is hurting me because they don't pay much for their current service since its bundled with their website hosting. And since I won't be saving them money I wanted to present all the positives of switching to Google Apps. That being said, from the little teaser I provided about switching to Google Apps, the calendar syncing with Outlook seemed to be all I need to make the sale.

Thanks for all the input guys.

 

[14049752]

The cost factor is what is hurting me because they don't pay much for their current service since its bundled with their website hosting. And since I won't be saving them money I wanted to present all the positives of switching to Google Apps. That being said, from the little teaser I provided about switching to Google Apps, the calendar syncing with Outlook seemed to be all I need to make the sale.

Thanks for all the input guys.

Google Apps Standard edition is still free, despite being a little harder to find the sign-up page.