Google Acquires Writely
Google is now the proud owners of a web-based word processing program, as they have scooped up Writely (or rather the company that makes Writely, Upstartle). There were alot of rumors, put to rest when the Google copyright appeared on the Writely website and a Writely employee posted on the Google blog about her new employers.
As is the case with every Google aquisition, there are two possibilities:
- Google bought them for their product, like with Urchin and Keyhole, and plans to aggressively develop the product, rerelease it under the Google name, and tie it in to many of the services. Everyone will love them.
- Google bought them for their technology/skills/employees, and plans on redistributing those resources throughout the company, like with Blogger. Google will continue development, but on a low priority. Everyone who likes Writely will complain.
Considering Writely would fit in perfectly with Google’s platform (Gmail/Calendar/Page Creator) as part of their growing web-based office suite, I’m hoping Writely will continue to grow.
Registration for Writely has been closed off until the move to Google servers is complete. Until then, you can leave your email address to be on the waiting list and notified when it opens up again, something which has never happened to any Google product, EVER.
The Writely blog explains the real reasons they joined Google:
- 10. Writely is like a caterpillar that we hope to make into a beautiful butterfly at Google!
- 9. We love Google’s philosophy and values — especially “Focus on the user.”
- 8. We’re as passionate as Google is about respecting users’ privacy.
- 7. Many of our users are already Google fans using other Google services.
- 6. Being at Google will help us do more great things faster.
- 5. Some people didn’t feel comfortable trusting a tiny startup with their documents…and we’re no longer a tiny startup.
- 4. We like lava lamps and they’re pretty much standard decor at Google.
- 3. Three words: Free Googleplex lunches
- 2. As fun as it’s been to launch a popular, global, 24×7 Web service, it’ll be nice to take a vacation once in a while!
- …and the number one reason???
1. We’ll be able to bring Writely to not just thousands but millions of users — the more, the merrier
Yeah, glad I was already a Writely user since Google had to stomp on in and close off registrations.
Then again, I probably wouldn’t have been too bent out of shape about it — I checked my account and saw that I haven’t changed the single document I have there since last May — which read in its entirety: “Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their party. The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog.”
Comment by Stu | March 9, 2006
Say, Stu, isn’t there a way you can get people in by adding them as a collaborative contact?
I would not mind being able to check it out.
Comment by Nathan Weinberg | March 9, 2006
Nathan,
Think you’ve forgotten about Analytics RE:”something which has never happened to any Google product, EVER.”
From the Analytics splash screen post login:-
“Thank you for your interest in Google Analytics!
Google Analytics has experienced extremely strong demand. We are sending invitations to new users to sign up as we add more capacity. If you would like to receive an invitation code, please enter your email address below and we will send you one as capacity becomes available. ”
–Wade M
Comment by Wade M | March 9, 2006
I signed up yesterday when I first heard the rumor because I knew that as soon as it is announced the wrtiely server would go crashing, or that registrations would be closed.
Right now, I can add up to 5 contacts. So, Nathan if you need an invite, I can send you one.
Comment by rr | March 9, 2006
You be correct, check your msn messenger and get back to me.
Comment by Stu | March 9, 2006
I’ll be honest, I don’t “get” this purchase. Why? How is it going to be monetized? Does Google think people will be comfortable with seeing advertisements in their documents? Do they think Writely could (in less than 10 years) compete with MS Word?
I just don’t see this. It seems, to me, likely to be another Picassa. Cool, but not at all central or even thematically connected.
Comment by Brock | March 9, 2006
Btw, I believe google is going to give priority to this product for one reason: CEO Eric said repeatedly on the Analyst Day event that one of their top priority for 2006 was “building new products and services for publishers of information”. This seems to fall in line with that. I also hope it means that there are some new things coming for blogger.
Comment by rr | March 9, 2006
I don’t see it as a particularly big moneymaker myself — I think its most useful feature is using to make quick-and-dirty wiki pages that multiple people can collaborate on easily.
As a word processor, I just don’t think it lays a finger on MS Word, especially not after seeing the latest interface pictures from the last couple of days (great screenshots at http://blogs.msdn.com/jensenh/archive/2006/03/09/547281.aspx and Coolz0r had some good comments about it over at the InsideMicrosoft blog at http://microsoft.blognewschannel.com/index.php/archives/2006/03/07/developer-it-pro-days-2006/ )
Comment by Stu | March 9, 2006
All of their recent purchases/releases seem to be non-joinable for a long time. I’ve yet to get a Google Pages account, Measure Map isn’t open, Google Analytics was swamped quickly and closed for weeks, and Writely is closed.
Web Accelerator was the same way, but that was a while ago.
Is Google planning on, you know, releasing any products any time soon?
Comment by Michael Akerman | March 9, 2006
Can someone please explain the joke to Wade?
Comment by Nathan Weinberg | March 9, 2006
Google 買下 Writely
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Trackback by 國生三年才開始 | March 9, 2006
Google Acquires Writely
Google is now the proud owners of a web-based word processing program, as they have scooped up Writely (or rather the company that makes Writely, Upstartle). There were alot of rumors, put to rest when the Google copyright…
Trackback by Anonymous | March 10, 2006
20060311網摘 - Office on the Web
Office on the web
Trackback by 網絡暴民 Jacky's BLOG | March 10, 2006
Can someone please explain the joke to me?
Comment by Tim | March 11, 2006
Tim, you serious?
The joke was that plenty of Google betas have been shut down quickly and left for people to go on wait lists. I was being sarcastic, by saying it has never happened before, when it has happened many times, obviously, and Wade thought I was serious, so he corrected me.
Now, please tell me you were being sarcastic.
Comment by Nathan Weinberg | March 11, 2006
would love a writely invitation
andrewtr89@gmai.com
thanks much.
Comment by Andrew | March 20, 2006
Could anybody please send me an invite? Thanks. sweet-Sally@trashmail.net
Comment by Sally | March 22, 2006
I would love a writely invitation !
dionis501 at gmail dot com
Comment by cooly | March 28, 2006
hi, can someone invite me to writely?
my email is selenaneles@gmail.com
thanks
Comment by selena | April 15, 2006
I would also like an account.
Again, I am one of those, but I really would appreciate to get an invite to Writely. If someone has one of those to spare: my email is petermueller37@gmx.net
Thanks and kind regards,
Peter
Comment by Peter Mueller | April 27, 2006
Would love one, too!
ryan.bank@gmail.com
Thanks!
Comment by Ryan | April 30, 2006
I’m giving Writely invitations. Simply come and ask for one here:
http://techhooked.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=400
Comment by Artakserksis | April 30, 2006
Desperate for a Writely Invitation code
Some please send one, can’t wait to have one.
Rahul
rahul1274@gmail.com
Comment by Rahul | April 30, 2006
I’d like a writely invite if someone has it.
davideckhardt@hotmail.com
Comment by David | May 1, 2006
I’m giving Writely invitations. If you want one come and ask for one here:
http://techhooked.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=400
Comment by Artakserksis | May 1, 2006
Hi,
I’m wondering if anyone would have a spare Writely invitation. Please email it to me at abirla at gmail dot com
Thank you.
Comment by Akshay | May 3, 2006
I would really love a Writely invitation. If someone has a spare one, please email it to me at lridgecookegmail.com
Thanks you
Comment by Leon | May 3, 2006
would like an invite
chetan.barai@gmail.com
thanx.
Comment by Chetan | May 3, 2006
Could I get an invite? scottyou@gmail.com
Comment by Scott | May 17, 2006
i toolove to get one.. could you plz give me.. my e-mail id is itsmeatr2@gmail.com
Comment by atr | May 17, 2006
plz give one plzz. my e-mail id is annapureddyatr@gmail.com
Comment by reddy | May 17, 2006
Please invite me to a Writely collaboration. Much thanks.
Comment by Mark | May 19, 2006
If you want a writely invitation come and ask for one here:
http://techhooked.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=400
Comment by Artakserksis | May 25, 2006
Hello i am arun. i am in need of a gmail id plz will anybody invite me.
thanx
Arun
Comment by Arun | May 25, 2006
hello i am Arun. i am in need of a gmail id plz invite me. would anybody like to invite me. It will be ur most kindness on me.
thanx
Arun
Comment by Arun | May 25, 2006
Is there anybody who wants to send me a gmail id invitation. It will be his most kindness on me.
Thanx
Arun
Comment by Arun | May 25, 2006
hello i am Arun. i am in need of a gmail id plz invite me. would u like to invite me. It will be ur most kindness on me. my email id is arun_netuser@yahoo.com
thanx
Arun
Comment by Arun | May 25, 2006
hello annapureedyatr plz send me an invite for a gmail id. it will be ur most kindness on me. my email id is arun_netuser@yahoo.com
thanx
Arun
Comment by Arun | May 25, 2006
I’m looking for an invite for a WRITELY account for my thesis work!!
Please, anyone? sweetlybroken@gmail.com
Thanks much.
Comment by Sande | May 29, 2006
[…] 相关的Web-based文字处理软件还可以看看Writeboard和前不久被Google所收购的Writely。 […]
Pingback by 时间足够爱 2.0（兼营歌曲联播） » Archives » ajaxWrite：免费的在线文字处理软件 | May 31, 2006
can i please get an invite to writely. stacy.ackerson@gmail.com
Comment by stacy | June 1, 2006
I would love to give this a shot… can I please have an invite?
Thanks in advance!
hlwoodcock.at.gmail.com
Comment by lee | June 6, 2006
Yes I too would like an invitation to writely and while you are at it to Spreadsheet too.
PLEEEEEAAAASE
bartwiegman at gmail.com
bartwiegman@gmail.com
Comment by Bart | June 6, 2006
Does anyone have a spare Writely invite? Thank you! dbrans@gmail.com
Comment by Derek | June 7, 2006
can i jump on the writely bandwagon too?
my email is: mitayai@gmail.com
Thanks!!
Comment by Mit | June 7, 2006
please send me a writely invite…djbinegar@gmail.com
thanks a lot!!!!!
Comment by djb | June 7, 2006
hey I have some writely invites, but I want a measure map invite.
Got to my site and contact me send me a aode or gmail and i’ll send you a invite if you send me a measure map invite:
from writely’s website:
No need to wait until Writely registration opens up again. When you have a Writely account, you have the power to get your 12 friends in immediately. Just add them as collaborators on a Writely document and click “OK” to email them. You can invite up to 50 new people by adding them as collaborators to Writely documents.
Comment by wayne sutton | June 8, 2006
Please send me a writely invite serviciomalo@gmail.com
Cheers,
John
Comment by John | June 9, 2006
A writely invitation would be very much appreciated if anyone has one.
My email is pc.techie@gmail.com
thanks,
Aaron
Comment by Aaron | June 12, 2006
Hi,
I would appreciate an invitation for writely.
Thanks a lot in advance.
My email: paloma100{a}gmail.com
Comment by p100 | June 12, 2006
I would really appreciate an invitation for Writely.
My email is: DiannaAtchison@gmail.com
Thank you so very much!!
Comment by Dianna | June 14, 2006
I would love a writely account if you could help me out.
Thanks a bunch.
afalduto@gmail.com
Comment by outaTiMe | June 23, 2006
If possible, I would love to have an invite too!
geetarista (at) gmail dot com
Comment by geetarista | July 1, 2006
I’d love one too..and I’ll pass on the favor! drkencarter (at) gmail.com
Comment by Ken | July 4, 2006
ditto the above
spammenot (at) trumpeters.me.uk
Comment by steven | July 4, 2006
I’m looking for a writely invitation if anyone would be willing to send me one scott dot baxter at gmail dot com
Comment by scott | July 5, 2006
Please.. I need an invitation to Writely.. I would really appreciate your sending me one… Thanx in advance…I am Omar from Peru.. my email is computerfan(at)hotmail(dot)com
Comment by omar | July 6, 2006
I am Omar again.My mistake.. it is computerfan29(at)hotmail(dot)com
Comment by omar | July 6, 2006
Hi there,
Apologies for joining the long list, but if someone has a Writely invitation going spare, it would be much appreciated here. I’m sdredge(at)gmail.com
Thanks!
Comment by Stuart Dredge | July 10, 2006
In case someone is still reading this, also one for
caygull(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks!
Comment by caygull | July 12, 2006
I am hoping there is someone here still giving out writely invitations.
If so, I would really like to check it out.
My email is art.cowles (at) gmail.com
Thank you,
Art
Comment by Art | July 12, 2006
I would so much like to have a Writely account.
Please invite me.
Kind regards
tina.ollson@gmail.com
Comment by Tina olsson | July 13, 2006
I’d love a writely invitation too.
dummyname@gmail.com
Comment by Mel Chong | July 31, 2006
writely invitation anyone?
thanks.
ko@caltech.edu
Comment by Dennis | August 1, 2006
Invitation please. Thank you!
scheidle@yahoo.com
Comment by Matt | August 3, 2006