Rumoured to be the next big thing in Social Media, Google Wave launched just over a year ago following an extensive “invite only” testing period. It is with shock and disbelief to hear that Google have announced they have halted development of its Wave project.
In recent years, Google have become very good at launching new products; rumours are started on social networks like Twitter, screen shots emailed around select industry leaders with the hope that on-line magazines such as Tech Crunch will pick up on the story and run blog posts. It is all part of the plan that aims to get the most coverage for the new product and it works!
Tech Crunch reported that when Google Wave was unveiled at Google I/O back in May 2009, it was one of the most ambitious projects they had ever seen!
“Everyone uses email and instant messaging on the web now, but imagine if you could tie those two forms of communication together and add a load of functionality on top of it. At its most fundamental form, that’s essentially what Wave is. Developed by brothers Lars and Jens Rasmussenand Stephanie Hannon out of Google’s Sydney, Australia offices, Wave was born out of the idea that email and instant messaging, as successful as they still are, were both created a very long time ago. We now have a much more robust web full of content and brimming with a desire to share stuff.”
At Mixd, we’ve been invovled with Google Wave from the beginning. We were one of the first to receive a private invite (even before the official closed “Invite Only” launch on September 29th 2009 – we’ve got friends in high places!) and we have been actively involved with the Google Wave Developer conferences. So, yes we are sad to see it go.
So why has it failed?
- A lot of users found it difficult to use – just ask Mike!
- Why try and reinvent email when email works just fine – the concept of Google Wave is good and if we are honest we quite liked what it did but why try to replace email? Can you imagine the NHS announcing they are going to ditch email? Don’t think so!
- There’s no big endorsement for the product – there is no one we recognise in our industry (such as Stephen Fry) endosring the product and telling everyone how good it is.
- We don’t need it – like many I’m quite happy using email. I don’t need another service to make my working life even more complicated.
Did you try it? We would be interested to hear your comments on your experiences of Google Wave and why you think it has not worked.
