This may sound strange, but does anyone else have a showgirl for their GMail logo today? Or maybe it's an indian chief? I've restarted, and it's still there...!
Ubuntu 6.10 / Firefox 2.0
Update:
It appears to be some sort of Aztec. This is what I get when I right-click where the GMail logo normally is and select 'View Image'
I'd love to see a G-apps version of Blogger. I think we could really use it at the schools I take care of as a MySpace/Facebook alternative.
While it's desirable to give kids the ability to express themselves in the way they are most accustomed, an administrative backend is necessary to manage any student that gets out of control, of course...
It's easy to see where this could go in the corporate space also. It seems to be the norm for current-technology companies to be open to their user base, and I think it's pretty common knowledge that this communication has been a very positive aspect of many company's successes, especially Google.
Many opportunities exist to have the user store their account information for web services in the gPhone, and interact while mobile. The rise of video and social media provide a wide variety of opportunity to add value to the device while still relying on its core services.
Already mentioned is Skype, the leading Voice over IP application. The inclusion of this application fulfills a requirement for the marketability to this phone, but we shouldn't rule out providing the ability of users to choose their Voice over IP provider. Giving the user the ability to choose the VoIP provider of their choice, independent of the method of WiMax/WiFi would be ideal. However, when marketing to specific companies, it may become necessary to set different versions of the device to lock in to specific carrier's networks for the sales agreement to be attractive to those companies.
Outside of the voice and data communications applications, the abilities of this device are limited by the Internet itself. The rise of social websites offer a unique ability for people to stay connected to these networks when mobile, and to access others and update their own personal portals. Sites such as MySpace would be an ideal candidate for offerings in this area.
Online video and pictures are also a rapidly expanding market. With the gPhone, users would not only be able to view and interact with media posted to services like YouTube and Picasa Web Albums, but would be able to shoot their own video and upload their contributions while mobile. A new class of grassroots news reporting may easily develop from this capability, providing mass user-generated content and a wide degree of coverage. Aspiring journalists could easily be paid for their media with Google Checkout.
Local shopping (the return of Froogle!) has great possibilities with the gPhone, as the on-board camera and bar-code reading ability make instant price comparisons with local stores a snap.
Due to the ease of connecting the device to the Internet, updates and new application offerings can be pushed out to the devices without issue. By having a wide catalog available to users, each device can be ideally configured to mirror the desired use by any user. This high degree of compatibility and ease of expansion into value-adding services guarantee a positive experience for the user.
Due to the nature of the gPhone, many paths of sale are available. These paths consist mainly of sales to the public via a non-telecommunications third party, or through a telecommunications company as part of a wireless service subscription package.
When selling to the public via an intermediary, multiple options exist. For a companies that specialize in video conferencing abilities, our device could be marketed as an extension to that service. By doing so, the videoconferencing company could add value to an existing product without having to do the research, development or manufacturing themselves. In addition, our device can gain traction in sales to the industries utilizing the videoconferencing technology. This would be a beneficial foothold to our company in the business sector.
When selling our device to the telecommunications companies, certain problems arise. In principle, this device is designed to replace the majority of the need for a telecommunications service contract between the telecommunications company and their customers. In the past, the telecommunications companies have responded by requesting that the device manufacturer (or in this case, the device procurer) lock out the abilities on the phone that would be in direct competition with services already offered. In this case, the ability to place calls via wireless connection over the internet would certainly be a feature the telecommunications companies would like removed before accepting the device as part of a standard offering. This is an unfortunate decision on both parties' behalf.
Due to past actions by the telecommunications companies, it may be difficult, if not impossible, to explain the device as an entry to a new business model (such as offering their own wireless VoIP), and an opportunity for the telecommunications company to grow into the WiMax/WiFi arena. With their infrastructure, they would have an easier path than most others to expand their offerings at the municipal level while building upon their infrastructure investment. An option would be to thoroughly explain the risks of not expanding into new service markets, while warning of non-telecommunications companies establishing the next big service network (for example, wireless Voice over IP) before the telecommunications companies are able to. An ideal example of this is the expansion of WiFi access to the San Francisco Bay community by Google, Inc.
Without sales support from the traditional telephone service companies, sales may be less than traditional devices in that sector. However, the previous example highlights an important point: the key to rapid sales may be in helping to establish a new market by working with those companies to develop a hand-held device on the user's end to correspond to the service offering on the suppliers' end. Again using the Google WiFi example, the gPhone adds value to the WiFi service already in development and deployment by Google. To call this relationship beneficial is an understatement. By marketing in an area where the device is highly usable in its primary purpose, we can have a much lower barrier to entry in those markets. Since the access is already there, the phone is immediately useful. On the supplier's end, Google benefits by not only adding value to their service twofold (computer and handset utilization), but they gain users in separate market segments as well. As it stands now, Google benefits from exposing free WiFi users to their computer (laptop) based products, primarily their search engine. By adding the users in a demographic comprised of mobile phone customers, we expand our user base tremendously.
In addition, the ever-increasing ability of Google's products to be accessed via mobile device gains a much wider audience. These points alone validate the gPhone, as we not only offer the services necessary to connect our device to the internet, but we also supply applications useful to users of the device. We are able to offer services like instant messaging, mobile email, directions (with a bluetooth-enabled GPS unit) and traffic, as well as ancillary tie-ins to such services as Picasa web albums (photo sharing) and YouTube (video sharing).
Rollout is suggested starting in the San Francisco Bay area and expanding the main focus of sales to other areas as ubiquitous municipal-level WiMax/WiFI services are deployed. One glaring problem with this partnership, however, is the lack of any internet-based live audio or video communications product by Google.
The leading company in this area is Skype. Skype is owned by eBay and boasts the greatest user base and (arguably) the service with the least barriers for users to get started with internet voice and video communications. With a simple download onto their computers, people can immediately begin speaking or instant messaging other Skype users for free, or call traditional phones for a small fee, charged monthly. In terms of a partnership with Google, this may not be a large problem. Google has no communication products that compete with Skype, and no auction products that actively compete with eBay. The lack of conflicting agendas does well to suggest that it may be possible to have a partnership with both companies, and in the case of conflicting offerings (such as instant messaging service), offer the user either service. (In this case, some stipend to Skype may be inevitable as the sheer amount of Google instant messaging users would most likely mean a large percentage of device users would prefer Google's instant messaging service.
With the primary service of this device sorted out (a partnership with Google and Skype to offer internet-based video and audio communications), the need remains to provide the users with the ability to use traditional mobile telecommunications service if they desire to travel outside the WiMax/WiFi coverage area. This isn't difficult, as the device has the traditional SIM card to enable a person paying for traditional wireless service to connect with their account information, if desired. In the case of conflict, such as when both WiFi and cellular service are available, the user can choose to prefer one over the other, but due to the nature of the device, the default setting should be to use the WiMax/WiFi connection whenever possible. The user may select to override this default, and would be made aware of their connection method via the external display on the unit.
So I thought I'd have a look at the targets for the upcoming gPhone. The order listed below describes the level of importance in a candidate device. However, without these features, the functionality of our device will differ to a lesser degree from existing products, or will appear to be less functional than existing devices. In total, these targets specify two needs: to match currently-offered technology in a familiar and convenient manner, and to provide the extra functionality needed to successfully market the device.
Candidate Device Targets
Well, here I am. My first day (un)officially working for Google. I had the opportunity this morning to make myself more familiar with the product lineup, and I'm excited by what I see!
So after I got my desk sorted out (I chose to bring in my own faux wooden cubicle floor, some plastic palms and cheap astroturf to wrap some of my desk in...along with my cheapie rock garden and water fountain...) I took a look at the feeds and checked out Google Maps' new service.
As you may have heard, Google Maps now offers traffic conditions for most major cities. I was lucky enough to catch a special on TV one day a while back that showed how this system has been used since something like the 1970's. (?)
Here in Chicago, there are magnetic sensors in the interstates surrounding the Chicagoland area. The sensors report in to a central machine, and update a display every 2 seconds or so to show traffic flow. By knowing how many vehicles travel through a given set of checkpoints over a given amount of time, they can estimate average speed, and assume that slow traffic (like 30 mph) means traffic congestion.
Originally meant for emergency crews, this information has been used to give real-time traffic reports to the public. The best site I’ve seen that uses this type of information is the one over at gcmtravel.com. I like it, because not only are you able to look up traffic conditions, but you can look up historical traffic statistics.
This doesn't sound like much, until you realize that if you look at the data, you can save (and I do) over 15-20 minutes in the car by shifting your departure time as little as 5 minutes. This is easily accomplished by looking up the traffic statistics for a particular time of day, on a particular stretch of road, on a given day of the year. By timing your travel so you’re not in the congested sections of highway when they traditionally have problems, you can save a large amount of time by slightly adjusting your departure time. In addition, if you know you're going to be stuck in a 5-minute merging zone, it's a big stress relief to know ahead of time and be able to adjust accordingly.
Traffic stats on Google are a great thing, and I'd like to ring the guys over at Maps and congratulate them, but also to make a suggestion: although the information is very cool, maybe we can use it in a few more ways?
I know some people have problems with Google, but I think that although there might never be a perfect company for everyone, you need to find the company that is perfect for you.
For me, the more I learn about "the Google way", the more it’s like reading about myself. Since no other place else seems to come close to the method of working and holding the same values as I do, Google seems to be an ideal home for me, and vice versa.
So here it is, my formal entry into the running. I'll post the results of my work for Google, and we'll see where it takes us.
My name's Dan, and I've worked in th IT field for a while now. I originally graduated with a Bachelor's in Information Systems, but am now about 3/4 of the way through earning my Master's degree in Information Systems Management. Along the way, I've picked up my share of certifications which have been useful at one time or another.
To be honest, Google has been a motivation in all of this.
It's always been in the back of my mind that someday I would want to work at Google, developing the next web applications that would change the world. Among other reasons, I've adjusted the past 6 years of my professional life to make sure I get exposed to a variety of things, in order to make me a more well-rounded IT guy.
It's worked well for me. I'm glad that I have a few handfuls of knowledge about a very wide range of IT areas, but what I'm especially grateful for is the culture of learning I've become accustomed to. I've trained myself to get used to a constant learning process, because in IT, that's the life if you're going to survive. Whether it's reading a few hundred feeds per day, learning new programming concepts and languages or just working on your collaboration skills, this is the path to success: legitimate hard work and dedication. I think I've got it, and that Google and I will mesh wonderfully in this area.
Now all I need to do is prove it. :-)
