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Thursday, September 16, 2010

Google Social Media - Take Three

Rumors about Google's new intentions to launch a new social network have been partially confirmed by Eric Schmidt at Google's Zeitgeist conference. He called it "adding a social layer" to the search platform. To what extent this will be similar to social networks has to be seen once the service is launched. Google only recently stopped it's second attempt of a social network Buzz, while Orkut is still running, but never seems to be able to compete with it's rival LinkedIn.
Given Google's existing capabilities of sharing videos and photos, instant messaging, video and audio chat, it should be a no-brainer for the smart teams to integrate this as one platform and compete with Facebook. However Facebook's huge user base might be the obstacle for Google to be successful in the field of social networks. Let's see if Google has learned its lessons from the Buzz "debacle" and look forward to Google Me.

Here are a few related links:
Eric Schmidt at Google Zeitgeist
http://www.youtube.com/user/eurozeitgeist#p/utm_campaign=en_uk

CNet Article about Google Me:

PC World article about Google Me

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1 comment:

  1. Vishal SuriSeptember 16, 2010 at 12:34 PM

    The challenge that I see with the social networks is that by very nature of these networks (the value of the networks grows with the number of users), this field seems to be all about the winner-takes-all game.
    There are different segments that different social networks tend to serve - Personal/Casual (Facebook, Orkut, etc.), Professional (LinkedIn, Plaxo(?)), Photo Sharing (Flickr, Google Photos).

    I feel that for a new player to enter this market, the company will have to target a segment un/under-served and then build from there, unless it's something very different and appealing than the existing dominant players. That's the reason Flickr and Linked continue to be dominant players in their segments.

    I believe iTunes is trying to do exactly that - it is trying to build a social network/community among the music (and apple) lovers. It should have its own unique features (differentiators) that may make people stick to it. Google Buzz tried to do the opposite. It tried to combine email, social sharing, blogging, productivity(!!) but nothing was connected properly - it was too clumsy a product. No one knew what exactly it was. Facebook, on the other hand, has connected all the dots very well (oh! and the games!!)

    iTunes has taken a lead and I believe in the right direction. If Google wants to succeed in this area, it has to come up with a product that differentiates itself from others - not another "Me Too"!

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