InsideGoogle

Markoff: Google “Communication Tool” On Wednesday

The New York Times’ John Markoff said in an article today that Google Desktop 2 is just one of two major product announcements, and the second sounds a lot like the long-rumored Google IM.

Google executives say they plan to unveil on Wednesday a “communications tool” that is potentially a clear step beyond the company’s search-related business focus.

While executives would not disclose what the new software tool might be, Google has long been expected to introduce an instant messaging service to compete with services offered by America Online, Yahoo and MSN from Microsoft.

A Google-branded smart phone has long been a pet project of Mr. Page, and earlier this year Google invested $2 million in a project by Nicholas Negroponte, founder of the M.I.T. Media Laboratory, to develop a $100 wireless laptop. The smart-phone idea, which the company has not talked about publicly, would be a way to extend Google’s reach and give it a more extensive connection with its users by offering Google on a multipurpose mobile device.

Here’s some wild speculation, since people seem to love that sort of thing: Maybe on Wednesday we will see that $100 device, a Google Messenger gadget that runs off WiFi networks (with no service charge) and gives you access to your Gmail on the go. All of the necessary pieces for such a device and network are hinted at in Markoff’s article.

Or maybe Google will release just another instant messenger. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

Brad Hill says:

Either Markoff is capriciously guessing, or he knows what’s going to be released, but is under journalistic embargo and therefore must frame his knowledge as plausible speculation.

Make You Go Hmm says:

In my opinion Google should skip releasing a standalone IM client. They sort of already have IM capability with Hello (although that’s a part of their picture service). Instead, they should go after and buy Skype — or something like it, maybe — for something that has chat and IMO the more valuable voice services.

August 22nd, 2005 Posted by Nathan Weinberg | Consumer Products, Products, General | 4 comments