Google to Permit Multiple Logins

Anyone who has ever worked with multiple Google accounts and logins knows the awkwardness of switching back and forth from one account to another. You have to first login to one account, then perform whatever tasks you wanted - then logout and usually wait while Google clears the session. The next step(s) are to repeat the process, and heaven forbid you want to compare info or settings within the 2 separate logins. It can be truly time consuming - even painful - until now.

According to a recent post on an unofficial Google blog (Google Operating System - unofficial news and tips about Google) Google will soon allow users to sign into multiple Google accounts simultaneously from the same browser. The feature will be accessed from the Google accounts page. It will be labeled 'Multiple Sign-in'. As of now the only types of Google services which can be accessed via the multiple sign-in feature are: Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Sites, Google Reader, Google Voice, App Engine and Google Code.

You can read up on the details of the new feature at Google's help page - Getting started: Enabling multiple sign-in.

While the multiple sign-in feature may work for some users, there are caveats and non-supported apps as well. Curtis R. Curtis, SVP Strategic Partnerships at UniversalBusinessListing.org explained why he may have issues with non-supported apps, "Currently I manage at least 3 Gmail accounts (I have at least 6 for my different companies and clients) by forwarding them all to one Gmail account so at face value this seems like a lot easier and simpler way to manage my Gmail accounts; that is until I read the part about "Google Calendar won't work offline". Since I manage all my meetings and appointments across all my accounts under my primary Gmail account, this is not viable for me. I am sure for those who are not using Google Calendar offline or other non-supported Google apps, this may be easier - however until they fix this; I cannot use it."

Additionally, while a multiple sign-in feature is somewhat interesting in itself, of great interest as well are the comments of the general web population over exactly why Google would do this. Here is a sampling of a few:

"Is this a trick by Google to catch cheaters using multiple accounts to get some extra storage space?"

"I think it is google's plan to catch cheaters who are using extra space using multiple accounts."

"In any case the cia/fbi or the internet police ever wants info on my they will go 2 google so this is taking away anonymity."

"skynet- i mean google..."

There is definitely a contingent that feels Google's motive in allowing multiple sign-ins is simply "squid ink" to catch abusers. Alternatively this same group alludes to the fact that Google simply wants to connect more of the dots of accounts used by a single entity. Daniel Foster, co-owner of UK dedicated hosting provider 34SP.com echoes this sentiment, "We have seen attempts to exceed storage on a multitude of our hosting products. The ability to clearly discern potential abusers would be an advantage to Google in curtailing these activities on their own services."

Whatever the reasons for the launch of multiple sign-ins at Google, the new service will appeal to some users as a time saving device while others will be less attracted to the new feature.

This is a guest post by Derek Vaughan, who is a web hosting industry veteran, marketing consultant and writer. Mr. Vaughan has architected the marketing growth of several prominent web hosting success stories leading to acquisition including Affinity Internet, Inc., Aplus.Net and HostMySite.com.