Google Inbox wants to reinvent the email app, but it has been hampered by a lack of support for Google Apps, meaning work accounts have been unable to use the service.
That changes on Monday. Google is expanding Inbox to include Google Apps for Work accounts. This doesn't mean anyone with an Apps email account can just connect with Inbox, though; the account's administrator must apply to join the "early adopter" program for Inbox and then wait for approval, which won't happen until March at the earliest.
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Still, the news does move Google's vision of email forward by including arguably the most important party: work accounts. Some of Inbox's most noteworthy features are instantaneous creation of to-do lists and the ability to dismiss all messages of a certain type (say, offers or pitches) quickly , both of which have obvious advantages for work accounts.
Currently, your Google Apps administrator can email [email protected] to request Inbox be enabled on a specific account. Google says it will start enabling Inbox for Work next month, although it plans to work closely with the early adopter companies, so it won't be approving every request.
Inbox, which launched last fall, incorporates aspects of Google's Material design. But the app has a completely different user interface than Gmail, and includes many novel features, such as the ability to see and access attachments directly in your message stream. Inbox is still invite-only, though invites are easy to find.
The app is currently available on iOS and Android as well as in desktop browsers.