Google touts greater collaboration with integration of Apps and Google+

Google has enabled an option to integrate the Google Apps productivity suite with the Google+ social networking platform.

Administrators can enable Google+ for employees using the free Google Apps and premium Apps for Business suites, and allow for the sharing of information within user circles.

Google expects the move to improve collaboration between departments. Workers will be able to create contact circles for business colleagues, for example, allowing them to share relevant content and updates with their peers.

Companies could also combine the sharing features of Google Docs with the chat functions of Google+ Hangouts to conduct videoconferences while collaborating on projects, the firm said.

"You use Google Apps in lots of different ways, and we expect the same for Google+," said Google product manager Ronald Ho on the Google Enterprise Blog.

"Apps users from artists to doctors to parents to students to teachers have told us that they are ready to join the 40 million people already sharing on Google+."

Google is continuing to integrate Google+ with its other platforms. Chief executive Larry Page said during a recent quarterly earnings call that Google will step up this integration, which analysts see as vital in competing with Facebook.