Skip to content

How to Predict Google’s Next Product

Google takes existing apps (mail, maps, IM, VoIP) and adds one incredible feature that changes the game and leaves the competition scrambling.

Google Maps had drag-able maps and integrated satellite images.

GMail was fast and acted like a client-side mail program.

Google Desktop Search is a file browser that makes “browsing” irrelevant.

Now we have Google Talk:

  1. Google Talk lets you use any IM client that supports Jabber and/or SIP to connect to Google’s IM network. Google calls this Client Choice. (I have read that Apple’s iChat VoIP already works with Google’s IM network. I have also heard Google Talk’s voice quality is excellent.)

  2. Google Talk will federate IM networks so someday folks on Yahoo IM may be able to talk to folks with AOL IM. Google calls this Service Choice. People with Verizon can talk to people with Sprint so why can’t we do the same on IM networks?

Google’s is implying that any IM network that doesn’t support Client Choice and Service Choice is giving a big middle finger to their customers.

So how do you predict Google’s next product?

  1. Take any piece of software you use all day: e.g. address book, calendar, web browser, iTunes, MS Office, stock charts.

  2. Ask yourself: “What do I really really really wish this product could do?”

  3. Wait for Google to make your dream come true. Or develop the dream product yourself so you can sell it to AOL/Yahoo/IAC/MS when Google launches their version.

What do you think Google will do with Google Finance?

4 Comments

Categories: Business, Google, VoIP.

By Nivi
— August 27, 2005 at 9:52 am





Comment Feed

4 Responses

  1. I like your theory of trying to anticipate Google’s product, creating a second-rate version of it (because you don’t have armies of developers) and then selling it to their competitors when they panic after Google’s release. Hrm – time to start brainstorming…

    Eric — August 29, 2005 @ 4:38 am —

  2. Connecting the dots on Google’s browser technology strategy http://www.thebogles.com/blog/

    Dimitar Vesselinov — August 30, 2005 @ 9:33 am —

  3. Google would do well to keep in mind that “extra Google something” in outdoing Yahoo for its Finance product: Technicals. They should balance the usual fundamental data with free technical information like this: Stock Research

    or a cool ticker too: Stock Ticker

    David Aferiat — September 14, 2005 @ 9:10 pm —

Continuing the Discussion

  1. WWGD: What Would Google Do

    Eventually some consulting firm will be founded based on the idea that people want to know what Google will do next and is willing to pay to find out.  Actually the idea is not that far fetched since Microsoft has just one such firm tracking its every...
    The Hitchhiker's Guide to 650 — August 29, 2005 @ 7:05 pm