Google "Facebook killer" rumor popped up Sunday: If true, Google will soon launch a social network called "Google Circles" (as in social circles). The rumor sounds like an updated version of the "Google Me" social network that was supposed to launch last year.
According to the Silicon Valley rumor mill, Google Circles is a secret social networking project designed to bring control and clarity to what you're sharing and with whom. The idea would be that you would have multiple "Circles" -- call them "Immediate Family," "Extended Family," "Co-Workers," "Best Friends," "Old Friends" and so on. You could then designate everything you post according to which circle sees it.Google denies the rumors, and says the company's strategy is to simply bake more social features into most existing Google products.
So we have before us two radically different possible approaches Google could employ to compete against Facebook and win in social networking.
One way to win is to launch Google Circles, and make it just like Facebook, minus the things people don't like about Facebook. The most important thing is to put users in control -- and make them feel in control -- of their own information.The second way to win is to execute on the stated strategy, which is to make existing Google services increasingly social.
Although Google strongly denies it, the company claims that its strategy is to simply inject more social features into it and eventually more Google products.
The features that are expected to be included are pictures, videos, and status updates - but with greater privacy options.
The news, which more or less sounds like a rumour, is also being touted as the upgraded version of Google Me, another social networking venture by Google, which was scheduled to be launched in 2010.The site, which was initially rumoured to be unveiled at the I/O conference in San Fransisco has now moved its location to Austin in Texas during a southwest technology event.
No comments:
Post a Comment