14 DAY TRIAL // The social network Google+ is going away and it will be split into two services, Photos and Streams. Google didn't specify what and if the social component of Google+ would remain intact, but it's not hard to guess what's happening.
Google's history is littered with the bodies of dead projects. Let's just stop for a moment to ponder about Google Wave, for example. They had a ton of products that didn't make the cut and they were disbanded. Now, it looks like the same is happening with Google+, but it's not clear what exactly will happen with the social network.
The news about Google+ being split into different products arrived in Barcelona, during the Mobile World Congress. They plan to branch Google+ into Photos and Streams, although there is no timetable and it's impossible to say how these two new products will be marketed. In fact, according to a mashable.com, this has always been their plan in a way and that it was just a matter of time.
Google+ fate is still unclear
Bradley Horowitz, which is VP of Photos and Streams, said on Google+ (kind of ironic, come to think of it) that the rumors are true and that big changes are coming. Unfortunately, he doesn't specify exactly what will happen with the social network and this is frankly what everyone wants to know.
"Just wanted to confirm that the rumors are true -- I’m excited to be running Google’s Photos and Streams products! It’s important to me that these changes are properly understood to be positive improvements to both our products and how they reach users," wrote Bradley Horowitz.
Google+ was supposed to be a real competitor to Facebook, but it never really got off the ground. Even so, unlike some of the Google products, it's not without users. In fact, it has a lot of users and they won't be really happy about this decision.
We'll keep you informed and we'll write more on this issue just as soon as Google actually decides what to do.