14 DAY TRIAL // Google Buzz has been making the headlines for the past couple of weeks but it's certainly not what Google had in mind. There was a lot of focus on the privacy issues that were exposed, and rightfully so, but less on the actual product. Which, even though half-baked when released as it was soon apparent, does have a lot of things going for it. But, once all the privacy issues get sorted, will Buzz be the next Facebook or the next Twitter? According to the search giant, that's missing the point, Buzz doesn't want to compete with Facebook, or Twitter for that matter, rather it's positioning it as a complementary service, a place with an emphasis on conversations.
Well, that's a relief, for a second, it looked like all the Twitter-killer headlines were on to something. But no, Google has no intention of competing, which is just as well as there's not much of a chance of Buzz coming close to Twitter any time soon, despite all the millions of 'users' it got from the fact that it's bundled with Gmail.
In an interview with eWeek, Google's Brad Horowitz said that his company's vision was a place where all the social services would come together, a place where people would discuss events, trends and whatnot and engage in actual conversation.
"It's not just status-casting. It's not just checking in. It's really meaningful interactions around meaningful topics within Buzz and it's reaching the right audience and people are engaged. That kind of value proposition is I think unique to Buzz," Horowitz stated.
When asked if Google was going head-on against Facebook or Twitter, Horowitz was clear. "Absolutely not. Per what I just said, this is creating a new category of communication. It's filling a niche, which is not currently met in the market. I think something unique is happening on Buzz that will continue to evolve. It's hard to create a trend line or extrapolate too much from six days of use, but certainly conversation and the conversational Web is a place where Buzz has excelled. I think it is unique and offers a compelling, interesting experience," Horowitz explained.
That sounds quite reasonable, in theory, Twitter is great at keeping a finger on the pulse of the planet but as a conversational tool, it leaves to be desired. Facebook has a different approach, it's a place to engage with friends and make connections and, yes, there are comments and private messages and even integrated chat but it's still different from what Google has in mind. Of course, Google also has to deliver on the potential and, after Buzz's very rough start, it may have its work cut out.