Google+ isn’t going anywhere, says guy in charge of Google+

 Internet News  606 Responses »
Oct 072014
 
google+

Though Google+ will apparently be around “for the long haul,” the social network is still being decoupled from many of Google’s other services. Google+ sign-ins are required to comment on YouTube videos, but use of your real name to create a Google+ account is not.

Businesses using Google Hangouts no longer need to give their users Google+ accounts. Creating a Gmail account no longer requires you to create a Google+ account. Reports suggest that the Google+ Photos service will eventually be separated from Google+ as well.

So even if Google+ itself isn’t actually going away, it’s clear that it’s no longer as central to Google’s product strategy as it once was.

via Google+ isn’t going anywhere, says guy in charge of Google+ | Ars Technica.

 

 

 

Report: Google to end forced G+ integration, drastically cut division resources

 Internet News  906 Responses »
Oct 072014
 

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In short, Google seems to be backing away from the original Google+ strategy. The report states that Google+ will no longer be considered a product that competes with Facebook and Twitter, and that Google’s mission to force Google+ into every product will end. With this downgrade in importance comes a downgrade in resources.

TechCrunch claims that 1000-1200 employees—many of which formed the core of Google+—will be moved to other divisions. Google Hangouts will supposedly be moved to Android, and the Google+ photos team is “likely” to follow. “Basically, talent will be shifting away from the Google+ kingdom and towards Android as a platform,” the report said.

The strange part is that both of these teams create cross-platform products. So if the report is true, there will be a group inside the Android team making iOS and Web apps, which doesn’t seem like the best fit.

via Report: Google to end forced G+ integration, drastically cut division resources | Ars Technica.