Google announced yesterday that you can now upload multiple file types to Google Docs.  This includes zip files, music, pictures, graphic photos and more.  What this means to a lot of small and medium businesses is that when they make the move to Google Apps they will no longer be so reliant upon a standard file server.  While the traditional file server has its advantages, mostly everyone is familiar and comfortable in working that way, the file server also presents the same problems that a MS Exchange server would have.  These problems including administration time and cost of replacement are some of the main factors that persuade businesses to switch their email and collaboration system to Google Apps.  Now with the online file storage capabilities of Google Docs many companies will be able to remove another piece of the on premise system out of their organization.

The Online hosted model for file storage gives many companies greater security and a much higher ease of use.  For security there is now one process for accessing files when at home or off site. Before hosted online file storage having the ability to work on files at home often meant devising your own system of getting the files where you need them.  This often meant burning files to disk or placing them on a thumb drive both of which are easily lost, easily destroyed, and offer no syncing features what so ever.  With online file storage you and your IT Staff can now control off site work and their proprietary files.

Check out the official Google Docs Blog post here: http://googledocs.blogspot.com/