Google Buzz takes on Facebook and Twitter
02/09/10 11:36 AM
I am
one of those people that thought Google's Wave
was more hype than substance but the integration
of eMail with social media is a natural evolution
in online communication. Google is slowly trying
to be all things to everyone but with their
predominant market share in search locked up they
really need to look at where the Internet will be
3-5 years from now if they want to continue to
grow.
The new version of Microsoft Office is due out later this year and it will have an updated version of Outlook the most widely used business email client. Should Microsoft include social networking in Outlook at a time when a lot businesses don't want employees using social media ? That's up for debate but using social media as part of a company Intranet can help reduce costs and eliminate a lot of problems.
Apple's Mail is long overdue for an upgrade but unfortunately Apple is allocating most of its resources to mobile applications not OS X which is due for another upgrade within the next year.
Some people who dislike Google will say that Google Buzz is nothing special but it is a serious challenger to both Twitter and Facebook. Social media is still relatively new to a lot of people and consumers are going to start using certain social media sites for specific purposes. Facebook maybe for friends only, LinkedIn for business contacts and MySpace for family but the problem seems to be that a lot of people and employers are looking at who you friend and what groups you belong to on social media sites.
Expect the uptake of Google Buzz to be slow but steady. As more people become comfortable with how to use it they may start to use it more and more and this Facebook and Twitter may start to decline. Twitter is already in trouble with some saying that they may have reached and past their peak. If Google can continue to think ahead and anticipate how users need and want to share information they maybe in a great position to gain share in a lot of other markets. The challenge for them is going to be not trying to do too much too quickly and lose focus on their core business.
The new version of Microsoft Office is due out later this year and it will have an updated version of Outlook the most widely used business email client. Should Microsoft include social networking in Outlook at a time when a lot businesses don't want employees using social media ? That's up for debate but using social media as part of a company Intranet can help reduce costs and eliminate a lot of problems.
Apple's Mail is long overdue for an upgrade but unfortunately Apple is allocating most of its resources to mobile applications not OS X which is due for another upgrade within the next year.
Some people who dislike Google will say that Google Buzz is nothing special but it is a serious challenger to both Twitter and Facebook. Social media is still relatively new to a lot of people and consumers are going to start using certain social media sites for specific purposes. Facebook maybe for friends only, LinkedIn for business contacts and MySpace for family but the problem seems to be that a lot of people and employers are looking at who you friend and what groups you belong to on social media sites.
Expect the uptake of Google Buzz to be slow but steady. As more people become comfortable with how to use it they may start to use it more and more and this Facebook and Twitter may start to decline. Twitter is already in trouble with some saying that they may have reached and past their peak. If Google can continue to think ahead and anticipate how users need and want to share information they maybe in a great position to gain share in a lot of other markets. The challenge for them is going to be not trying to do too much too quickly and lose focus on their core business.
