Google Cloud unveils free version of Workspace in response to hybrid working rise

Google Workplace Essential Starter includes free access to a range of collaboration tools

Google has rolled out a free version of Workspace aimed at making it more easily accessible for businesses which do not have access to modern communication and collaboration tools.

The Google Workplace Essential Starter gives business users free access to tools including Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drive, Meet, Chat and Tasks using their existing email addresses.

"The new Google Workspace Essentials Starter Edition is a no-cost solution for business users looking to enhance teamwork and unlock innovation with secure-by-design collaboration," Kelly Waldher, vice-president of marketing, Google Workspace, said.

"With Essentials Starter, we're making it easy for employees to choose their own productivity tools and bring modern collaboration to work."

Users will be able to hold one-to-one meetings of unlimited length and "immersive" team meetings of up to 100 people for a maximum of 60 minutes.

They will also be able to use real-time messaging with Google Chat, have access to 15GB of storage in Google Drive and collaborate in Google Spaces.

"As the world of work continues to evolve in unprecedented ways, secure collaboration—at speed, at scale, across platforms, on multiple devices—has never been more important," Waldher added.

"Essentials Starter helps employees and their teams break down silos and work together in new ways, even if their organisation still relies on legacy productivity tools that weren't built for the hybrid era of work."