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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.

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!

This thread is closed to new comments. Thanks to everyone who responded.