Home Geoff L.'s Page
Pro!

OK Powncers. Finally something to talk about. What do you think of the Jaiku purchase? Is Google going to integrate it into Blogger? What does this mean for Twitter? And Tumblr? Thoughts?

Personally I think Jaiku will be transformed into something much bigger. They stopped taking on new customers until they can unveil some new features. I also see it becoming much more U.S. centric...

Note I am thinking for a blog post on Friday. Anyone who participates will be linked to. Thanks!

GL

5.0 stars
Forward

1 year ago by Geoff L. - Pro!

13 Replies

  • 4.0 stars
    Todd J. Todd J. replied Oct 9, 2007
    Jaiku probably doesn't need to be more US centric, though I'm not sure exactly how that works in the online world. Most things Google does have multiple language support.

    As to bigger, I'm going to say for sure. Of course, look how long it took them to do something with Writely.

    Looking forward to your blog post on Friday. But like you, we all need to wait and see, and idly ponder. :)
  • 5.0 stars
    Melissa G. Melissa G. replied Oct 9, 2007
    Personally? I love Jaiku and think this is really the push they needed to go "less geek" and more for the masses. Their current features are awesome, they have a channel for wish features.
    Another thing that makes them so great is the connection with the developers and sense of less secrecy. Intermingly with the consumers to me makes a great atmosphere.

    Overall? I think it's great. Hopefully either Twitter will pull their heads out of their ass or go by the way side. How many Tweets can be twittered away before they get it together?
  • Phillip Z. Phillip Z. replied Oct 9, 2007
    This is Google's move into the social media space in the US - which is the market they're after. Jaiku will probably be

    * badly renamed (think Writely to Google Docs - ugh - though I hope I'm wrong)

    * it will be tied into GoogleTalk to faciliate easy access updates

    * it will be tied into Orkut - somehow. Hey, they've got a network winner in Brazil - but that won't get them over $700 a share. They need one in the States!

    * it will be another link at the top of you Gmail account

    * you'll be able to use your Gmail to update it.

    I'm trying to think of something else, but my mind is a little to fuzzy at this moment to get there... there is another tie in though!

    Essentially, it's a bridge. Look for Google to leverage it. The question is, does it have enough social media cache (sp?) to make it happen? Will people switch from Twitter? (remember, you can stream twitter to Jaiku, but you can't update twitter FROM Jaiku). Will people switch from Pownce? (which has a much nicer interface?

    All these questions and more... answered in our next episode!
  • Trik . Trik . replied Oct 9, 2007
    I'm in the camp that the Jaiku acquisition is another piece of a global communications infrastructure that Google is building and will meld into a cohesive system over time. Jaiku is just another piece. Much like Grand Central and others.

    I'm also in the camp that Google will be releasing a gPhone but not because they want to be in that space. They are most likely using it to provide a reference platform proving the concept of a potential standard for a minimal open source Linux based mobil platform.

    If they succeed in these two ventures: 1) a global communications infrastructure melding social, mobile, vid delivery, music delivery, cloud, and desktop environments and 2) a standard open platform for the handheld piece (phone and pda and small general computers (car, plane, etc) THEN they will be selling ads everywhere.

    I'm all for it, but I hope once the grand plan is there, there will be competition.
  • Matt M. Matt M. replied Oct 9, 2007
    Names...hmmm....Im thinking they'll rename to something Googlish like Google Chatter, Google Message, Google Post, Gownce, Gitter (<-- Kinda cool :)...For the time being, Im guessing Jaiku will remain unchanged though and Google will keep snatching up companies like its 1999.
  • 5.0 stars
    Kris G. Kris G. replied Oct 9, 2007
    Think of other things, getting GrandCentral notifications via Jaiku, Gmail/Jaiku/Google Chat inter-op, and one I really hope happens quickly, local SMS short codes for NA and Europe!
  • 5.0 stars
    Krishnan S. Krishnan S. replied Oct 9, 2007
    Today's acquisition will not affect twitter. Unlike Jaiku, which is at best an app, twitter is a very open platform. Both twitter and Jaiku satisfies different itches for people. In fact, O'Reilly has a great post about the nature of Jaiku. It is a good read.

    http://radar.oreilly.c...

    So far, I was using Jaiku passively. If Google allows local sms (sms to within US instead of an international number), I might consider using it actively. There might be some integration with Orkut and blogger. The picture might get clear after we check out the rumored Google's announcement on Nov. 5th.
  • 5.0 stars
    Kabren L. Kabren L. replied Oct 10, 2007
    I think Google is making some bad decisions. To tell the truth, though I hate to do so in this case, it seems that Yahoo is snatching up the better services (Flickr, for example).

    In addition, I just don't like Jaiku very much. Before Pownce, though, I used Jaiku all the time. But I didn't get anything from it. It was "verbal diarrhea" or "life vomiting", to me.

    I think Google is just looking for more services to integrate into it's inevitable gPhone. I don't know if that makes sense, it's 6:40 in the morning.
  • Geoff L. Geoff L. replied Oct 10, 2007
    Some fascinating insights...
  • Christian B. Christian B. replied Oct 10, 2007
    Scoble says this is all about challenging facebook, but I see it as a move to an app that will sit on your Google Phone. Once we have a habit of always on and also know where we are to push local advertising its a great move for google.

    Jaiku has been trying to obtain a North American SMS shortcode for a long time (over 6 months?) and the holdup has been the US carriers. I joined Jaiku back when Leo switched from twitter, and it really felt small. If I had an idea or wanted to ask a question, I could just ask and a Jaiku employee seemed to just answer in a thread. Just a great set of people.
  • Christian B. Christian B. replied Oct 10, 2007
    An example of developers on Jaiku http://jaiku.com/chann...
  • Brian S. Brian S. replied Oct 10, 2007
    Google bought jaiku because it ISN'T twitter. It's the strongest flow + presence + mobile + social aggregation app on the market now. And what many don't realize is that Jaiku is ALL OVER the global nokia platform as well. "think" mobile. gphone anyone? http://www.briansolis....
  • Brian S. Brian S. replied Oct 10, 2007
    A little more fuel for the mobile angle: http://money.cnn.com/2...

Join Now to Reply!

To add your own reply, sign in or join Pownce today!

306 Recipients

View all

This note is viewable by everyone.