Hi Robert,
What functionality are you seeking in Outlook that you cannot get in Gmail? The main problem is that the two companies are highly competitive, so as Google looks to increase their business applications including google drive (competing with Microsoft Office); and Microsoft moves to 365 (what once was Microsoft Office Exchange is now Microsoft 365) and their cloud based applications becoming more competitive with google the two no longer work with one another.
If you are interested in sticking with Outlook I would go with with Microsoft 365 for small business:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/business/office-365-small-business-premium-office-online-FX103037625.aspx If you do not want the hassel of switching providers again I would continue with google aps for business:
http://www.google.com/intx/en/enterprise/apps/business/ Similar to what Adobe has done, by no longer releasing actual software packages and moving to cloud based subscription services, Google (along with Gmail) and Microsoft (along with outlook) are looking to do the same. Right now google's pricing structure is more competitive than Microsoft and you can still share calendars, schedule meetings, file emails (via labels instead of outlooks folder structure), etc... However, tools like word and excel far exceed Google's offerings in google docs.
Alternatively you could find an email product that works with your desktop version of Microsoft Outlook. However, you will most likely find yourself changing again in the near future as software continues to move towards cloud based applications.
Hope this is helpful!
Evelyn
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Evelyn Lee AIA
Senior Strategist
MKThink
San Francisco CA
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www.practiceofarchitecture.com
Original Message:
Sent: 07-08-2013 17:29
From: Arthur Kjos
Subject: Email alternative to Gmail
We had for years run our own Exchange server for email. This year we have outsurced this to a provider who runs a server for us and charges a monthly fee per user. Overall cost lower than owning and operating, it is scalable and reliable. But it is not free as is Gmail and the like.
Art
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Arthur Kjos AIA
Clark/Kjos Architects, LLC
Portland OR
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