<p>Previously, Google Apps, a web-based attempt to challenge to Microsoft Office's dominance of everyday enterprise tasks such as word processing and spreadsheet editing, was free of charge to firms with 10 or fewer staff.</p><p>Individual consumers will still be able to use Google Apps, including Gmail and Google Drive, for free, it added, and the change will have no impact on existing business customers.</p><p>Google Apps, created from 2006 onwards with a series of acquisitions and new developments by Google, and using Gmail as a foundation, is used by more than five million firms according to the web giant, although it has not disclosed how many were subscribed to the free version.</p><p>Google also does not disclose the revenue the software, but the company has signalled its hopes that it will become an important part of its overall business. In July, senior executive Nikesh Arora described serving businesses as a "future growth engine" for Google. Web advertising currently accounts for virtually all Google's $38bn annual revenues.</p><p><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/google/9728881/Google-to-charge-small-businesses-for-Gmail.html">Keep reading...</a></p><p>Read also:</p><p><a href="http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/2012/12/7/217-Google-to-charge-small-businesses-for-using-Gmail-Google-Apps.html">Google to charge small businesses for using Gmail, Google Apps</a> (Newstrack India)</p><p><a href="http://www.pc-tablet.com/12340-google-charge-small-businesses-google-applications/">Google to charge small businesses for Google Applications</a> (PC-Tablet)</p><p><a href="http://thenextweb.com/google/2012/12/07/google-stops-offering-google-apps-for-free-to-focus-on-providing-a-paid-for-experience/">Google stops offering Google Apps for free to focus on providing a paid-for ...</a> (The Next Web (blog))</p><p>Explore: <a href="http://news.google.com/news/more?ncl=dzMJyVS5uGYSJ_MEnjvzpmsXXM56M&ned=us">107 additional articles.</a></p>