This is not exactly new news, since it is a new Google Apps option I had not noticed when it was implemented two weeks ago. But for those who have adopted Google Apps for their organizations, it will be of interest: Google Apps administrators now have the option of changing the system default so that newly enhanced features in various Google applications that have already been implemented in the “consumer” versions are automatically implemented in your organization’s Google Apps. No more waiting for Google Apps upgrades, people!

About two months ago Google rolled out Gmail 2.0 to its “consumer” Gmail accounts with a host of enhanced features. Of course, the proverbial problem for Google Apps users is that changes made in the consumer version of Google applications can take a long, long time to migrate to the Google Apps versions. Well, in response to demand, Google now permits Google Apps administrators to opt-in to the changes immediately.

To do so, go to your Google Apps control panel and select Domain settings > General > Control Panel. At the bottom be sure to select both “Next generation” and “Turn on new application features to my domain before they are rolled out to all Google Apps customers,” as illustrated here:

I turned ours on today. It took only about 4 hours to kick in. Nice, very nice. Really dig the way improved Contact Manager.