Bangalore: Google has officially announced that they have ended providing the free version of its Google Apps online application suite for small and medium businesses. The internet giant has also declared that they are on the verge of building more of a stronger platform, fully focused to increase the user app experience.

Last week, Google posted in a blog that small businesses with 10 or fewer employees from now onwards will have to pay for its online app platform. The service will be charged US$50 per user, per year.

The company also said that the services will remain free for existing individual customers and existing business clients.

The service, "Google Apps for Business” is truly a one stop shop for businesses as it provide services such as email, calendar and online office suite as an all-in-one service, allowing them to be used on private domain names and adding features such as 24-hour phone support. Other features such as an archiving service and additional storage are available for extra fees.

Clay Bavor, director of product management for Google Apps, said the service is used by "millions of businesses." The removal of the free version has helped its customers to get rid of the confusion on Google’s different offerings and this move has ensured a better experience for its business customers, added Bavor.

Since the launch of a paid version for the “Google Apps for Business” in the year 2007, Google has gradually decreased the size of businesses that can use it free of charge. In 2009, the limit was set at 50 users, and in 2011 it was lowered to 10 users, prior to ending the free portion of the service.