New York: Gmail is headed for the office officially.
Starting form Monday, Google will offer Google Apps for YourDomain, a free package of programmes for businesses,universities and other organisations.
Workers will be able to send e-mail with Gmail, Google's two-year-old Web-based mail service, but messages will carry their company's domain name.
The package also includes Google's online calendar, instant-messaging service, and Page Creator, a Web page builder. Information technology administrators can make some customisations.
"But really, the applications are exactly what you'd experience as a consumer if you use them," said VP and general manager of Google Enterprise, a division of Google Inc, Dave Girouard.
The free edition of Apps for Your Domain is, like Google's main site, supported with advertisements.
By the end of the year, the company also plans to launch a paid version that will offer more storage, some degree of support, and likely, no advertisements.
A price for that edition however, has not yet been set.
Providing e-mail and other applications for businesses moves Google closer into what has traditionally been turf occupied by Microsoft Corp.
Earlier this year, Google released a program that builds simple Excel-type spreadsheets but lets users access them on the Web.
Now, with e-mail, Google appears to be targeting Microsoft's Outlook and Exchange franchises although the company plays down any such views.
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