Google+ was not among the 10 Google Apps made available to Brown Gmail users by Computing and Information Services July 14. The social network is not yet available to Google Apps, the service through which Brown Gmail is run.
Even if Google does expand Google+ to Google Apps, the University may not activate it for Brown Gmail, said Stephanie Obodda, assistant manager for communication and computer education.
Students cannot use their Brown Gmail accounts to create Google+ profiles. They must either use a separate Gmail account or a completely distinct domain.
Google is "working to bring features in the Google+ project to Google Apps users in the future," a company spokesperson wrote in an email to The Herald.
The only apps currently available to Brown Gmail accounts are those deemed to be relevant to education, Obodda said, adding that the school would have to examine the implications of Google+ and, "most importantly, what control we would have."
In its July statement, CIS restated that the University would maintain the ability to access all content created in Google under a Brown Gmail account. Still, the University cannot arbitrarily look into user accounts — "it's not just someone who's browsing through stuff for fun," Obodda said.
There is a regulated system controlling access to any Brown Gmail account. Accounts are usually accessed in response to employee absence or legal action, according to the CIS website. Access requires approval from senior University officials, such as the Department of Public Safety's chief of police.
Originally available by invitation only, Google+ opened sign-ups to the public Sept. 20.
Daniel Audette '15 said he felt the design of the site is decent, though he does not use certain aspects of Google+, such as the separation of contacts into distinct groups. "I'm friends with everyone," he said.
Google+ allows users to differentiate contacts into circles, or levels of friendship.
Roie Levin '15 said "the whole idea of circles is much more intuitive." In Google+, it is possible to restrict the information a user gives out to only certain groups, which Levin said he found advantageous.
