Business services giant Rentokil Initial will roll out Google Apps to 35,000 staff across 50 countries by end of 2010.

The cloud-based email system will replace the original PC-based system that comprised 180 different email domains and 40 mail systems. The new global email solution offers a calendar, integrated chat, email translation and video communications.

The system will provide email access to 20,000 regular PC users, as well as 15,000 on-the-road staff. The remote workers, who did not originally have a company email account, will now be able to access Google mail from any internet-connected device such as a PDA or home computer.

Bryan Kinsella, chief information officer of Rentokil Initial, said: “Google Apps allows us to overcome a number of technical and communication issues. Having access to a single company-wide email address database will be beneficial, and the system will help overcome translation difficulties faced by staff wanting to collaborate with others around the world.”

The decision to implement Google Apps globally was taken after a 100-day pilot at Rentokil Initial’s Ambius office plants division involving 800 users in global locations.

Rentokil Initial owns brands such as the Rentokil pest catcher, City Link parcel deliveries, and the contract cleaning-to-catering firm Initial.