Computer and Library Learning (Archived)

Google announced today (September 20, 2011) that Google Plus (or G+) is open to any members of the public who have or sign up for Google Accounts, while Hangouts can now be accessed through one’s mobile phone. Google’s search capability has been integrated with G+ with the intent of finding relevant information posts and people. Since its introduction some 3 months ago, G+ has over 25 million users compared to 750 million for Facebook. Google Plus uses Circles by which material can be shared narrowly or widely at the discretion of the creator as opposed to Facebook and its friends and Twitter and its followers, and Hangouts with its multiuser video in which up to 10 individuals may participate free of charge (unlike Skype which charges for multiple users but has partnered with Facebook for making free internet audio and video calls) to foster personal interactions. Android phone owners who are also G+ members can use G+ to upload photographs from their phones (after installing the free G+ app). (iPhone users will be able to do the same shortly.)

Facebook has been meeting the G+ challenge by introducing a Friends’ List that one can use to determine who gets to view information posts. Its “Subscribe” button is generating a lot of interest and traffic. Arguably, Facebook and Google Plus have been feeding off each other with G+ circles resembling Facebook friends and Facebook’s recent change to privacy settings to allow users to control whether the public, friends, or custom groupings can view Facebook posts. Facebook has partnered with Twitter to allow users to update Twitter accounts with Facebook updates but it is debatable whether this alliance will overwhelm Google Plus; G+ is allowing unlimited post lengths in direct contrast to Twitter.