Google backtracks on legacy GSuite account shutdown, won’t take user emails

[silversurfer]

Content source

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/05/google-backtracks-on-legacy-gsuite-account-shutdown-wont-take-user-emails/

Google finally launched a solution for people with "legacy" GSuite Google accounts. After initially threatening to shut down free GSuite accounts if users didn't start paying for the service, Google has completely backed off. Once users jump through some sign-up hoops, Google will allow their ~16-year-old accounts to continue functioning. You'll even get to keep your email address.

The saga so far, if you haven't been following, is that Google has a custom-domain user account service, currently called "Google Workspace" and previously called "G Suite" and "Google Apps." The service is mostly a normal Google account that lets you use an email that ends in your custom domain name rather than "@gmail.com." Today this service is aimed at businesses and costs money each month, but that was not always the case. From 2006 to 2012, custom domain Google accounts were free and were even pitched at families as a geeky way to have an online Google identity. [...]

In May, Google finally told these users what would happen to their accounts. The new support page says, "For individuals and families using your account for non-commercial purposes, you can continue using the G Suite legacy free edition and opt out of the transition to Google Workspace." The link for that is here or in your GSuite admin panel. You'll need to confirm that your GSuite account is for personal use, and not business use, because businesses are still expected to pay for Workspace. If you already bent to Google's will and started paying for Workspace because of the January announcement, Google says you should contact support.

The biggest news from this latest announcement is that Google has decided against taking people's custom email away. A second support page says, "You can continue using your custom domain with Gmail, retain access to no-cost Google services such as Google Drive and Google Meet, and keep your purchases and data." It now sounds like there will be no changes to your account, provided you click through the "self-transition" screen before the deadline.

The deadline to opt out of an account shutdown, which has changed several times now, is June 27, 2022. If you don't complete this opt out by June 27, you will be automatically billed for Workspace. If you don't have a card on file and don't opt out, your account will be suspended on August 1 and shut down.

Google backtracks on legacy GSuite account shutdown, won’t take user emails

Click this link to stop your GSuite account from being shut down! We're serious.

arstechnica.com

 

[SpiderWeb]

Why does anyone even rely on Google anymore? They will do a 180 on every product they have released. This is why I switched to Apple. People want reliability.

 

[byronbytes]

Why does anyone even rely on Google anymore? They will do a 180 on every product they have released. This is why I switched to Apple. People want reliability.

Exactly. They've had over 200+ shutdowns of different applications (and probably more), that shows true inconsistancy.

 

[Local Host]

Exactly. They've had over 200+ shutdowns of different applications (and probably more), that shows true inconsistancy.

All of them niche projects in which we already have superior alternatives, they not shutting down YouTube nor Gmail anytime soon.

 

[byronbytes]

All of them niche projects in which we already have superior alternatives, they not shutting down YouTube nor Gmail anytime soon.

Google:
Now introducing - Gmail 2.
By the end of 2050, Gmail will be shutting down.