So, one week ago, Google announced the Google+ platform. I can't tell you how excited I am for this. I have not had the opportunity to fool around with G+ but from what I hear, it was set to give facebook a run for it's money. It seems to be heavily based on things called "Circles." These circles are places to categorize your friends with a drag and drop of your mouse. If you wanted to share info with just your closest friends, create a circle for them and share your info with just that circle. The other awesome feature of G+ is the video conferencing. G+ uses a concept called "hangout" which lets you invite to people to "hangout" with you on the web. The site will post something along the lines of "Nick Bast is hanging out." This will allow friends to click the link which will automatically connect your video chats to each other. But it won't be just one person it can be multiple people hanging out at the same time and thus enhancing the "real life" feel of the site. G+ was on track to take down the king of social networking...that was until...
Facebook revealed today that a"Skype" function will be integrated into the Facebook platform. This will let users "one-click" video chat their friends. Not much info is available on all the features the Facebook Skype will come with but it seems like it will be pretty much like the original. It really seems like this is Facebook's hurried response to Google+. They are adding video chat and downplaying the importance of "circles" stating that they have had "group" options for quite some time now and people are still...well...not really using them.
So the question is:
How does Google+ gain and maintain a foothold in the social networking community?
For starters, it needs to speed up it's production. When facebook debuts it's video chat, networkers will see it as the new "standard" in social networking and everyone else is just playing catch-up. If Google waits too long to debut it's platform, G+ will seem like a cheap knockoff of Facebook.
G+ is obviously geared towards a younger generation who are getting accustomed to being plugged in 24/7. Google is attempting to make G+ incredibly life like with hangouts, video conferencing, etc. which may not go over well for the moms and dads and even grandparents who are casual Facebookers. G+ needs to find a way to catch that same audience or it may end up like other recently sold social networking sites.
Facebook has downplayed the use of circles claiming that cirles are really not that important. They state that less then 50% of users use their "groups" application. To be honest, groups have never been one of Facebook's main focus'. G+ however, is built around a concept that all "real life" friends do not share equality on our chain of importance. They use the circles as the central driving force of the site.
If G+ sticks to it's guns and can come out quickly with a sound product while finding a way to captivate the 30+ age range, I think G+ will have an excellent chance of surviving. I for one am excited for it.
For a more in-depth look at Google+, Click HERE.
So the question is:
How does Google+ gain and maintain a foothold in the social networking community?
For starters, it needs to speed up it's production. When facebook debuts it's video chat, networkers will see it as the new "standard" in social networking and everyone else is just playing catch-up. If Google waits too long to debut it's platform, G+ will seem like a cheap knockoff of Facebook.
G+ is obviously geared towards a younger generation who are getting accustomed to being plugged in 24/7. Google is attempting to make G+ incredibly life like with hangouts, video conferencing, etc. which may not go over well for the moms and dads and even grandparents who are casual Facebookers. G+ needs to find a way to catch that same audience or it may end up like other recently sold social networking sites.
Facebook has downplayed the use of circles claiming that cirles are really not that important. They state that less then 50% of users use their "groups" application. To be honest, groups have never been one of Facebook's main focus'. G+ however, is built around a concept that all "real life" friends do not share equality on our chain of importance. They use the circles as the central driving force of the site.
If G+ sticks to it's guns and can come out quickly with a sound product while finding a way to captivate the 30+ age range, I think G+ will have an excellent chance of surviving. I for one am excited for it.
For a more in-depth look at Google+, Click HERE.
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