Google makes friends and creates social circles with new social networking platform Google+

Source: The Independent (UK)

Wednesday, June 29 2011

Google is finally unveiling its long-rumored social networking Facebook competitor, Google+ (pronounced Google Plus).

The Google+ project attempts to enhance online sharing, rather than aiming to be a fully fledged Facebook rival; however, there is no denying that many users will view the social network as an alternative to Facebook, Twitter, Skype or website discovery services like StumbleUpon and Digg.

Google+ places emphasis on sharing information, news and links with customized "circles" of friends.

Google's social project can be broken down into its different features: "Circles" lets users "share what matters, with the people who matter most"; "Hangouts" is a place for friends to take part in online group video chats and on-screen gatherings; "Huddle" is a group messaging service; and "Sparks" is a place to share cool links and "geek out about the things you are passionate about."

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"From the little that I've seen so far, Google+ is by far the best effort in social that Google has put out there yet," http://techcrunch.com/2011/06/28/google-plus/">said TechCrunch's MG Siegler, while posting a thorough review of the project. "But traction will be contingent upon everyone convincing their contacts to regularly use it."

Read more: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/google-makes-friends-and-creates-social-circles-with-new-social-networking-platform-google-2304278.html

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You can sign up to receive an invitation and learn more about the Google+ project here: https://plus.google.com/

The Google+ project: A quick look
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xwnJ5Bl4kLI