Google Drops the Beta

Google has tended toward a non-traditional use of the term "beta" when describing their tools. Software is traditionally in beta when it isn't quite ready to be released to the public. Google has thought of it more as a label for items when they weren't quite sure if they were done tweaking the interface. Some Google tools have been stuck in beta for years.

As it turns out, companies balk at the idea of using "beta" software to run their important business. Who knew? So Google is losing the beta label for Google Apps related tools, including Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Docs and Google Talk.

Do you think this is a smart move that will convince businesses to switch to Google or a pointless gesture in a Microsoft-dominated marketplace?