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Technology Advice for Small Businesses

Gmail to remove Calendar invitation

GoogleApps_May26_AWith so much of the business world operating online, it’s not surprising that so many administrative tasks are online too. Calendars accessed via screens make it easier for us to stay organized in an ever-increasing digital world. Google’s Gmail Calendar is one such tool, helping you manage your time, remember important events, and even share your schedule with others to better collaborate. In an effort to enhance user experience, Google recently announced upcoming changes to be made to Calendar soon.

Starting in July this year, Google will remove the Calendar invitation feature within Gmail which allows you to add event invites directly within an email without having to open Calendar itself. As of now, if you choose to insert a Calendar invite within an email, you’ll get a message warning you of the changes ahead. Although this might irritate a few people, Gmail community managers report that the feature is conceivably underused by the majority.

Reasons why Google is pulling the plug on this feature is unknown. However, several sources believe that a replacement is in progress. Google Calendar will still enable you to create invitations but the workaround will be that you have to click into Calendar and create an invitation from there.

How to create an invitation in Calendar:

  1. Go to www.google.com/calendar and click on the Create button located in the upper left corner of the page.
  2. Now that you’re in the Calendar page, add in the details of your event, including the name, time, date, location, and description.
  3. Add invitees by entering their email addresses on the right and clicking Add.
  4. You can set the event’s privacy to default, public, or private and choose who will be able to access a particular event. Default will follow the current share setting of Calendar. Making it public will expose all details to anyone who has access to the event, while making an event private hides all details from invitees, aside from those who have access to change the event.
  5. Once everything is done don’t forget to hit Save in the upper left corner.

You still have some time to send invitations for Calendar through Gmail. The likelihood is that an even better integration system will be introduced. Looking to learn more about using Google’s products and services in your business? Call us today for a chat.