I think part of it is marketing. In practice, Google Hangouts, Google Voice, and Google Chat are the same thing, but they don't always market it as such and it

I think part of it is marketing. In practice, Google Hangouts, Google Voice, and Google Chat are the same thing, but they don't always market it as such and it become confusing. I agree with your sentiment that they should focus on one product and do it well, and maybe release other ones to fit other niches if necessary. That way if the new niche product doesn't do well, it's not weird and the core product remains. This is what Facebook does and Messenger is their most popular product by far for phones. I don't know if many non-tech people really think that Google is unreliable though. HN-ites think that because of the multitude of news we get about any product abandonment and the ones we used to use really sting even to this day (Reader...), but to the average person they don't really know or think that. Instead, they might get the new product if it seems cool, but generally they'll stick with their old messaging app because it works and that's what all their friends use, and so for them to switch requires not trust, because they don't distrust Google, but momentum, which can be difficult.