Google++

I might be the only one saying this, but I do not think that Google put out their newest social networking tool in order to try to slay the giant that is Facebook. I do not think that they are even trying to compete for that matter. Do I sound crazy? Google+ is basically Google's attempt to do Facebook better than Facebook did, just like the Android phones are Google's attempt to do the iPhone better than Apple, right? While I certainly think that Google loves the rapid growth that they are experiencing, I do not think that are worried about how they are going to keep that trend going. I think that Google is so well connected and perfectly positioned, that you are going to have (and love) your Google+ account without knowing it. What do I mean? Here's the perfect example.

The other day I got on YouTube and watched a video. I noticed that I had the option to mark as a favorite or remember it to be watched later. Since these are usually tasks associated with having an account on a website, I was confused because I have not made a YouTube account. It was then that I noticed that I was signed in via my 'Gmail' address. I certainly did not put that information in, but since I was signed in to my gmail, it automatically had an account for me.

The important part was that I liked it. It was quick, easy, painless, and yet benefited me. This is where Google has figured out that it has struck gold.

Google bought YouTube, probably because it realized that YouTube was on to something revolutionary, as well as it being an gold mine of advertising dollars. Google had the forsight, as well as the capital, to make such a large investment. But that might be the tip of the iceberg. It is my guess that in the future we will continue to see Google take control of, or create, many of the tools and programs that we use on a near daily basis. Take Google reader for example. This is a tool that Google has put out for people to use to send all of their RSS feed subscriptions to the same place. I now can go to almost any website and have updates sent to my Google reader for me to look at on my own time. It is like creating my own personal magazine full of content that I actually care about. And just like my Gmail account, my YouTube account, and Google search, it is free. Even my Blogger account is signed in via my Gmail account.

I think that one day the world is going to wake up and realize that Google has done a lot for them. Then they are going to get on to Google+ to see what other great free service that Google has provided them. They are going to go to set up their profile and realize that it has already been populated with information that Google has learned about them. It is the bonus '+' in 'Google +'. And it will again be quick and easy and painless for users to get set up with Google- there will be little left to add about their interests because Google has been collecting and tracking information about you through their other platforms. People are going to have Google+ accounts without realizing it. Maybe not today, maybe not this year, but sometime this decade we will see this trend emerge. 

Google is primed to make this huge leap. It's 'ace in the hole' is the service that revolutionized the world- the Google search. Where would the world be if Google did not invent the internet search engine? The whole information boom that we are experiencing is because of Google. Because of this, it knows what people are really interested in and can stay a step ahead of the competition and acquire the crucial pieces of their overall puzzle before they get too big.

Imagine if you went shopping online, whether it is ebay or Amazon or a business website, and all of your information could be saved to your profile and purchases could be made through your Google account. You have no need for separate usernames and passwords, with PayPal integrated right into your account. Could you see a day where all your internet needs are met through Google? Would this not naturally become the new marketplace for business, ideas, and social interaction?

I don't see what would stop it. And I don't see what will stop Google from making this a reality. I see a world of even more added benefits from Google, I see Google++.