Google Apps creates slower lane for enterprise feature additions

In a nod to enterprise IT, Google Apps on Tuesday moved to provide a more regular update schedule to those customers that want it.

Google is known for rapidly releasing new features in Apps and the company continually adds items in its Labs tab. While this approach works for SMBs and consumers, large enterprises want a more predictable schedule.

With the new approach to Google Apps updates, administrators can pick two approaches:

• A rapid release track that provides updates as soon as they are available and ready for release.
• A scheduled release track that gains access to new features on a weekly schedule. Admins can try out the new features, line up support and plan.

The scheduled release approach also follows an update day everyone in enterprise IT knows about---Tuesday. Google said it will provide a one-week notice before an initial feature launch and then scheduled updates will happen on Tuesdays---the same day as Microsoft's monthly patch rollout.

According to Google, Gmail, Contacts, Calendar, Docs and Sites will follow the new release schedule. Anyone with prerelease features enabled will be on the rapid release track. If you don't have prereleases enabled you'll be on the scheduled track.