Getting Started with Google
Google carries a useful assortment of tools available to the home office. Today we’ll feature the effectiveness of the Google Calendar.
Unlike products such as Microsoft Outlook and personal calendars, Google’s calendar is online and easy to use. It is also the perfect collaboration tool. It is compatible with ics calendars and other popular formats. It is also interactive with it’s own GMail system.
Over the next few weeks we’ll be discussing the features of GMail and Google Calendar. To get started, however, you must have a Google account.
To reduce abuse of SPAM and viruses, Google requires new GMail and Calendar subscribers to have access to a cell phone. When you sign up for service, Google will send a confirmation code to the cell phone for completion of the signup. You may have the confirmation code sent to either your cell phone or to a a friend’s mobile.
Another way to obtain a Google account is to receive an invite from another Google member. I invited my family members so we can collaborate on family events. Other choices would be extended family members, office buddies, and other telecommuters. Google gave me 50 invites to send out to recruit others. The only thing missing from that equation is getting paid for these members. Wouldn’t that be great?
To create your first event, click on the Create Event button in the upper left corner.
Enter the data as desired.
If you’re sharing your Google Calendar, be sure to click on Add guests. Enter the email addresses of your guests. If you want the guests to invite others, then click on the invite others checkbox.
One feature that seems to be missing from this window that would be helpful is the ability to choose guests from your GMail address book.
There are many more features we'll discuss next week. Until then...have fun Googling!
