Google Plus (Google +) is the new hype and trend lately in the social universe and I would like to get your thoughts and views on it.
Even though it is still in beta phase (testing phase) only accessible via invitation directly from the platform for testing purposes, it is already being seen as the next “big thing” to replace Facebook.
Since I have been using and testing it for a short while (less than a week), here’s a couple of my thoughts on it.
Integration with all Google’s applications and products
Google search, Maps, Google Documents, Gmail, and Google Apps will be integrated onto the “Plus” network. This is going to be a huge + for search and social media.
Friend management
Not a lot of users on Facebook uses the feature which allows you to group friends. I did a short blog post a while ago about “Dunbar’s Number” in which Robin Dunbar states that the number of people with whom we can maintain a meaningful relationship is 150.
With Google Plus circles you add people to groups and they are kept separate from posts to your friends and personal connections. This will definitely help in creating order with all the noise and you can now separate your friends from business colleagues, family, etc.
Google Plus mobile
With the growth of smart phones, Google already launched a dedicated Google + mobile app starting with the Android platform and the iPhone/iPad application to be launched soon. The mobile web app for Google Plus is very user-friendly so if you don’t want to use a dedicated app for this network, use the mobile site. The only problem with the mobile site is that I couldn’t change my location from the mobile site.
Video conferencing
“Huddles”, Google Plus terminology for video conferencing is already integrated onto Google Plus. This means that no additional applications will be required for a video conference on this network. What will this mean for Skype’s future?
Is Facebook having problems? Will Google Plus be the next “big thing” that changes the market or will it fail similar to other Google projects such as Google Wave?
If you are on Google Plus, connect with me and share your thoughts.
As usual one more internet addict asking for google plus invitationnnnnnnn pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeee
This afternoon I read about an odd thing on ReadWriteWeb in that if one uses Google Apps then one can’t get access to Google plus ?
Loving it so far, the question is… how long before they launch worldwide
The worldwide launch will be before the 31st of July.
Where did you hear about the worldwide launch?
I haven’t tried Google+ myself, but I do have some debatable
preconceptions.
I honestly think that Google + will not replace
Facebook and may not even do that well. Facebook has grown on such a massive
scale that people won’t feel the need for yet another social networking site.
Same reason why gamers don’t play more than one MMORPG at once. Facebook users may also have spend years creating photo albums, adding ‘friends’
and playing with apps. If anything, I think Google + will be used by a very
small, elite group of web savvys. That, or web addicts! But seriously, do we
really need another Facebook?
Do you play WoW?
Interesting thoughts, Anton.
In my opinion, I doubt Google+ is going to be very successful with this venture. Facebook is rolling out the features of Google+ so quickly that by the time Google+ actually launches to the public there will be almost no reason to switch over.
The only real advantage to G+ that I can see is the extraordinary integration that Google offers, particularly the integration of +1 buttons into its search results. The integration with all other Google apps is also fantastic.
Whether that will be enough to convert 750 million Facebookers, only time will tell. 🙂
Well, I’m not sure it’s ever going to completely replace Facebook as a place to catch up with friends and such, but in the 3 weeks I’ve been with G+, I’ve managed to make a couple really cool contacts for my writing business, plus ran into a couple old friends from the blogging community that I hadn’t heard from in a couple years. So, for networking purposes, I’m happy with it. But when it comes to the social part of it, I don’t know that they can outdo Facebook.
Hello Anton. Ek het jou pos op Blogengage gekry en het jou nog nie daar gesien nie. Het jy nou net aangeskakel? As jy het, welkom by n wonderlike en dinamiese familie. Jy gaan nog bly wees jy’s deel daarvan. Ek het gewonder, Is jy van Suid Afrika af? Ek het nog heeltyd gewonder dit sal nice wees om n blog-vrind te he van Suid Afrika. Hoe dit ookal sy…
I have read all the buzz of G+ and even had one of my writers do a great piece on it and it’s set to be THE place. It’s just so frustrating how quick things change isn’t it. Just got the hang of Twitter, grown my FB page a little and started hacking at LinkedIn and now, new stuff. Exhausting.
But hey, you gotta play the game with the right gear if you wanna win at it right?
Thanks Ivin. I have been on blogengage for a while now. Here’s my profile – http://www.blogengage.com/user.php?login=AntonRSA&view=profile
Google+ is really great, especially if you are a blogger. Give it a try.