Prediction: Google will get into IM soon
Prediction: Google will get into IM soon. It’s a good guess…they should tie it into Gmail and Orkut. Also on the horizon: Web hosting/backup/services a la Apple’s .Mac service.
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Reader comments
gummiApr 07, 2004 at 1:02PM
If it happens, I predict they'll process the conversation in real time to generate 'relevant' text ads.
danApr 07, 2004 at 3:50PM
that would only be natural, given that they do exactly that for their searches.
ericApr 07, 2004 at 6:53PM
that sounds like an awful idea
IzzyApr 07, 2004 at 7:01PM
If they did, I'm not sure I'd want to join up. Having my email on a huge central server is one thing, but I'm sure they would try to log all convos and I'm not sure if I want Google to have a record of everything I say over IM...even if I would be able to search through it using their engine.
ericApr 07, 2004 at 7:18PM
I don't think the logging is even the real reason it's dumb. There's just no need for it.
Right now, we have AIM, ICQ, MSN, Yahoo!, Jabber, and a few other clients/protocols that I can't think of offhand. Other than a funky AIM/ICQ semi-cross-compatibility, none of them work together - and they're all already free. How can google possibly compete in this segment - and more importantly, why would people use it?
bobApr 07, 2004 at 10:47PM
What about Trillian? It allows you to use AIM, ICQ, MSN and Yahoo! (not to mention IRC) all in one program.
EmmetApr 08, 2004 at 9:49AM
Surely it would also have the ability to post directly to Blogger?
MarcusApr 08, 2004 at 12:46PM
Blogs filled with transcripts of "amusing" IM conversations are toe-curlingly boring enough without Google making it even easier!
ericApr 08, 2004 at 3:34PM
What about the Kim Jong Il livejournal? ;)
pushkarApr 26, 2004 at 11:41AM
Hope people dont defect from google. Portal busines is easy to get into with so much brain power, difficult to uphold the trust of millions!
xasaApr 27, 2004 at 7:07PM
thank you
This thread is closed to new comments. Thanks to everyone who responded.