What is Google Voice ?

Google on Thursday unveiled a service called Google Voice, which has the potential to make the search giant a middleman in an important part of people's lives, telephone communications.

What are the implications of this ?

If this takes off Google will start owning the relationship with the end customers for voice communication as well !!! It claims that this is not a threat to telcos but all will depend on the success & uptake. Going by the past record of Google it wont be a surprise ....if it changes the way we manage our voice communication needs ..!!!

Google's View : 3 Trends in Social Networking

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-9970053-2.html

What do people think ?

Economic Downturn & the Impact on Social Networking

In times of economic downturn & distress I think the following trends may be visible in the world of social networking:-

1. The usage of professional networking would have grown & people may be actively looking to leverage their connections for jobs.

2. The lines between social networking & professional networking may be becoming fuzzy as people desperately attempt to leverage all sources possible to find the job.

What do people think ?

Thoughts behind LinkedIn : Reid Hoffman

http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/10128

We have seen speakers on/from facebook over the course of last few lectures. Here Reid speaks of his idea on starting a professional community even though he had been an investor himself in various other social networking sites.

Apple promotions / fan posts on YouTube

Youtube may not yet have realized its commercial potential by the account of some of the speakers in the class, however posts such as the above do make one feel that it contributes significantly in making a impact which may lead to a sale/ customer acquisition.

Impact of Cloud Computing

For reference I am posting 2 short videos on Cloud Computing.
It seems that the buzz around cloud computing is catching on. It is likely to radically change the way organisations run their systems & the way people interact with applications. Any thoughts ?

Web 2.0 & Social Networking

http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=7818852908161786954&hl=en

How can the social networking aspect of web 2.0 be leveraged for enhancing Internet Marketing. Can we actually involve the target customer to participate in the marketing / promotion, create a community & actually act as an 'pseudo - affiliate' ?