The free Web-based Google Calendar, allows users to build online calendars that enable specific individuals or groups of people to access all or some of the events listed. A Gmail account is not necessary to use Google Calendar.

Users can easily search for and add events to their calendars from within the program or directly off Web sites that are either publishing events using open calendaring standards or which have added a Google Calendar button to their site. Users also can search for events from friends' shared calendars and import events from Microsoft Outlook.

Google Calendar users can search for events in a search bar by typing in keywords or event or people's names. Events also can be quickly created by typing in simple messages with a day of the week and the item is automatically generated.

In addition, users can create event invitations to be sent to anyone with an e-mail account, send reminders via e-mail or mobile phone text message, and keep track of RSVPs from within the program. People can see their schedules by day, week, month and four-day views, highlight any period from a monthly calendar for a customized view, and display only certain events at a time on their calendar view.

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