The blogosphere is abuzz about Google’s plans to integrate a “Twitter-Killer” into GMail – and there are already people such as Robert Scoble boldly suggesting it’s not going to happen.
Twitter is the dominant micro-blogging service, having forced Pownce (remember them?) to go away while a score of such as StatusNet and Plurk quietly toil away in the background. Meanwhile, Google’s first stab at the market, Jaiku, was a dismal failure.
That said, anyone who dismisses Google’s chances of posing a threat Twitter would be making a mistake. Here’s a few reasons:
1. Despite Twitters’ large user base – 50 million or so around the world – it’s growth appears to be slowing, particularly in the U.S. where it has been flat in recent months. This may suggest that Twitter as a standalone service has reached a saturation point.
2. GMail’s popularity provides Google with a huge potential market to launch a Twitter-Killer. GMail users are already are used to having conversations using GTalk so adding another feature is not coming out of left field.
3. GMail is also a excellent demonstration of how Google has bene able to break into new markets. At the time, Hotmail and Yahoo Mail dominated the landscape, so GMail received a tepid response. Today, it’s one of the most popular e-mail services.
The keys for Google’s Twitter-Killer will be how well it is integrated into GMail, and the features it offers given Twitter’s weak spot is the fact it continues to be a no-frills service.
Tweets that mention Head’s Up, Twitter; Google’s Coming! | Mark Evans Tech -- Topsy.com
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Mark Evans, Mark Evans, kelvin lee, topsy_top20k, topsy_top20k_en and others. topsy_top20k_en said: Head’s Up, Twitter; Google’s Coming! http://bit.ly/bjzML6 [...]
Maybe this is the most inspiring story for me. It is simple but strong in motivating people. Thank you for sharing here. If you don’t mind, please also comment on my blog: Tweet Adder. Thanks.
Maybe this is the most inspiring story for me. It is simple but strong in motivating people. Thank you for sharing here. If you don’t mind, please also comment on my blog: Tweet Adder. Thanks.