Google Social Network Initiative, Take 2?
Rumors are flying that Google is planning on launching a second attempt at social networking with the upcoming Google Circles. It purportedly carries the same status-sharing, picture-posting, vide0-playing functionality that users have come to expect from networks like Facebook. The major difference? Google will be learning from their mistakes and giving users fine control over what content is shared with whom.
As always, credit where credit is due: ReadWriteWeb has the definitive roundup of Google Circles buzz (no pun intended.) As they report, the initial rumor had Google unveiling Circles at this past weekend’s South by Southwest convention, at an event hosted by the ACLU and spotlighting the new focus on individual privacy.
But now Google’s in spin control mode, saying that there were never any such plans, and denying that the product even exists – though there’s some evidence to imply that they’re not telling the whole truth. And TalkinCloud has gone on the record as saying that Google has the budget, expertise, and experience to make a real go at an enterprise-grade social network in the tradition of Salesforce Chatter.
Google Buzz had many, many issues. But if Google Places turns out to be a real thing — even if we have to wait for the Google I/O conference to see it — it could be a major productivity booster for Google Apps users. And Google partners would do well to keep an open mind.
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