Apr 21, 2008 at 3:06pm ET by Greg Sterling
iGoogle is one of the most interesting products at the search engine. Reportedly the fastest growing of Google’s offerings, it’s a personal start page or dashboard, but with potential to evolve into something more. Today Google announced “a sandbox for developers that helps them build richer gadgets for iGoogle, which will offer users more powerful and interactive features…”
The announcement also says, “iGoogle’s new features will include left navigation, a maximized or “canvas view” option for gadgets, and social features for gadgets using the OpenSocial APIs. These social features for gadgets will include a friends list and activities displayed through a special updates gadget.”
This starts to sound, as TechCrunch argues, a bit like a nascent social platform. Indeed, and Google generally has been “socializing” many of its applications.
As Marissa Mayer indicated in her recent interview with Danny (paraphrasing):
[Mayer] reiterated that the Orkut social networking site that Google runs remains strong worldwide. But she said that it might be that for the US and other key markets where it does not lead, the company might need to re-brand or build entirely new social networking services.
Thus Google might be watching iGoogle and potentially looking to that property to become the hub or focus of those new services. (It’s also in a potential position to be a kind of “meta-network” where newsfeeds and updates are consolidated.)
Share, Bookmark & Discuss This Article
More:
Keep Updated: News Via Email | News Via RSS Feed | News Via Twitter
See more stories like this in the Members Library! Check out the Google: iGoogle sections of the Members Library where this story is filed. Members also get access to exclusive video content, a members-only weekly & monthly newsletter, plus more. Check out all the benefits!
TOP STORIES
SEARCH NEWS BRIEFS
FEATURES & ANALYSIS
RECENT COMMENTS
Stay on top of all the search news with our daily summary, the SearchCap newsletter. View a sample ›
Search Engine Land produces SMX, the Search Marketing Expo conference series. SMX events deliver the most comprehensive educational and networking experiences - whether you're just starting in search marketing or you're a seasoned expert.
SMX Web Site » | SMX Difference » | SMX News »
Join us at an upcoming SMX event:
Learn more about search marketing with our free online webcasts and webinars from our sister site, Search Marketing Now. Upcoming online events include:
Featured sites from our Blogroll
Become a premium member today and receive: