It feels like there is not a day where Google is not updating or publishing a new service. Google Buzz is the latest service that is being rolled out from today on to all Gmail users.
It is a social networking service to share updates, photos, videos and more with contacts. If you think Twitter, MySpace or Facebook then you got the general idea what Google Buzz is about.
Gmail users who have already been invited to the service by Google will see a notification the next time they log into Gmail.
If they chose to use Google Buzz they are redirected to a Gmail website that looks still pretty much like Gmail but comes with a few changes.
The left sidebar has been extended as it now contains a Buzz link which leads to the Google Buzz page in Gmail.
The Buzz page contains buzz posted by the owner of the account and by the followed users. This resembles Twitter. Google will automatically pick a few contacts that will be followed automatically and will post Google Reader shared items, Picasa Web public albums, and Google Chat status messages automatically on that page.
It is furthermore possible to connect additional sites to the Buzz account. This includes websites that have been added to webmaster tools, additional Google services like Youtube or Blogger as well as Twitter and Flickr. All those services and websites can be added so that updates are posted automatically in Google Buzz.
It is possible to add buzz messages which can be compared to Twitter messages sans the 140 char limit. Links and photos can be posted in the buzz message. A link will automatically be resolved and added with the website’s description while photos need to be uploaded. They will be displayed as a thumbnail directly in the message.
Some links will also be displayed directly including Youtube urls that can be played directly in the message.
Messages can either be private or public. Private messages are only accessible to specific users while public messages are visible for everyone (meaning they will be indexed and accessible by all users, not just the contacts).
Messages that have been posted can be commented on. Other social features include emailing messages, “liking” them (yes you can like your own posts).
The messages that have been posted to Buzz are accessible in Google Profiles, a service that can also be indexed in the Google search engine.
Google Buzz will be a successful service. It is linked to Gmail and all Gmail users see the notification upon login. That’s a guarantee that it will quickly reach a critical mass of users.
The real question is if it can compete with Twitter or Facebook on the same level. The answer to this has to be no unless Google has an ace up their sleeve and plans to add more functions to Google Buzz.
Have you already had a chance to test Google Buzz? What’s your opinion?
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