The launch of Google Apps Message Encryption (GAME), an application for the Google Admin console, was announced by Google on May 15. This new partnership brings the option of completely encrypted communication to any enterprise client willing to pay the $35-per-user price. GAME is a collaboration between Google and Zix Corporation. Encrypted communication will also include sending email to contacts outside the Google umbrella; emails within between Gmail accounts have been encrypted to some degree by default for a little while now. Users of this new application will be able to encrypt even emails sent to Yahoo and Outlook.com.

Full customer support is not offered by Google because Zix Corporation is providing this third-party solution. However, a "Quick Start Guide" was already published to Google Apps Administrator Help.

Not only does GAME encrypt emails sent by customers of Google Apps, but it also offers them the choice of creating bounce messages for emails sent to unrestricted users who try to send encrypted emails. Emails earmarked for encryption are sent through Zix Corporation's "Zone" data center, where they are secured before being sent on to the intended recipients. There is currently no indication if this encryption addresses lingering concerns about Google's ability to automatically scan email messages for the context clues it uses to guide its targeted advertising toward Google users.

Rick Spur, Zix Corporation's Chairman and CEO, stated, "In the midst of growing awareness regarding data threats, it's more important than ever that companies have a reliable solution for the secure exchange of valuable customer and corporate data."

Those worried about privacy in the wake of revelations about government agencies and corporations spying on user data will surely be excited by this new option, but so too will be businesses who want the assurance of encryption to keep company information private even when emailed. For now, this option does not appear to represent a radical increase in security options, as there already exist third-party solutions like PGT, but it should prove useful for it to be built into Google's infrastructure. However, it is easier to put in place now that the option is incorporated into Google Apps.