5 ms·

Sure, that's the official Google line. Meanwhile, everybody who actually tried to follow the launch was confused about why there were two, which ones did what,

by ohazi 7y ago

Sure, that's the official Google line. Meanwhile, everybody who actually tried to follow the launch was confused about why there were two, which ones did what, why there was no interoperability, why wasn't hangouts being replaced, "Mobile-first? More like mobile-only," and "Should we even bother? They're going to kill them both off in three years anyway." It absolutely did hurt the adoption rate -- It would have gone much better if Google management had announced one communication platform and committed to making it their bet going forward. They were hedging, and it was obvious. Nobody wants to pay switching costs to use a new thing if the creator isn't even confident in their new thing.

flattone 7y ago
Exactly. I think most employees were even confused mid cheers. Really when we say google today we are 100% not talking about the place we are remembering.
netsharc 7y ago
As far as I understood, they had 2 teams making the 2 communication apps. The simultaneous release date would explain that they were competing with each other, and they didn't want the other team to get the head start on the market. It was probably left to the PR department to sort the problem out and make a press release that made the company look sane. Imagine if Microsoft had an Excel team and a "Spreadsheetr" team...
- JorgeGT 7y ago
  I for one can imagine a Microsoft that has Skype, Skype for Business, Teams chat, Yammer, Kaizala...
  - bathtub365 7y ago
    Live Meeting, MSN Messenger, Lync, Office Communicator
- johannes1234321 7y ago
  > Imagine if Microsoft had an Excel team and a "Spreadsheetr" team... You mean as in a "Microsoft Office" team and a "Microsoft Works" team? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Works https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Works
Multicomp 7y ago
> It would have gone much better if Google management had announced one communication platform and committed to making it their bet going forward. Ironically, Google had this circa 2013 with Hangouts. The mobile app did SMS, im, video chat, voice chat,. you could do all the same on the web or desktop programs, including sending SMS messages from your computer. For a short time, Google had an iMessage competitor and if they had merely stayed the course, they would have much more usage today then their fragmented explosion of mobile apps today. Instead, they keep trying to kill Hangouts.
- pocket_titan 7y ago
  And they've tried once more, by making Meets free for individuals. I loved Hangouts (& still do!), esp the plugins. I don't get their drive towards fragmentation, honestly
  - bathtub365 7y ago
    I’ve heard that the best way to get promoted at Google is to launch a new product. If true, that might explain it.
    - lowdose 7y ago
      This fable sounds so old and dusty that probably the only people that didn't hear this parrot song are occupying a shout forum like twitter because they never listen. I dare you to use the HN search function on comments and come up with a day nobody mentioned this internal career ladder inside Google.
      - bathtub365 7y ago
        Sorry, are you saying it’s incorrect, or that you’re just tired of hearing about it?
      - exolymph 7y ago
        Clichés become so for a reason.

by ohazi 7y ago

flattone 7y ago

Exactly. I think most employees were even confused mid cheers. Really when we say google today we are 100% not talking about the place we are remembering.

netsharc 7y ago

As far as I understood, they had 2 teams making the 2 communication apps. The simultaneous release date would explain that they were competing with each other, and they didn't want the other team to get the head start on the market. It was probably left to the PR department to sort the problem out and make a press release that made the company look sane. Imagine if Microsoft had an Excel team and a "Spreadsheetr" team...

JorgeGT 7y ago
I for one can imagine a Microsoft that has Skype, Skype for Business, Teams chat, Yammer, Kaizala...
- bathtub365 7y ago
  Live Meeting, MSN Messenger, Lync, Office Communicator
johannes1234321 7y ago
> Imagine if Microsoft had an Excel team and a "Spreadsheetr" team... You mean as in a "Microsoft Office" team and a "Microsoft Works" team? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Works https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Works

Multicomp 7y ago

> It would have gone much better if Google management had announced one communication platform and committed to making it their bet going forward. Ironically, Google had this circa 2013 with Hangouts. The mobile app did SMS, im, video chat, voice chat,. you could do all the same on the web or desktop programs, including sending SMS messages from your computer. For a short time, Google had an iMessage competitor and if they had merely stayed the course, they would have much more usage today then their fragmented explosion of mobile apps today. Instead, they keep trying to kill Hangouts.

pocket_titan 7y ago
And they've tried once more, by making Meets free for individuals. I loved Hangouts (& still do!), esp the plugins. I don't get their drive towards fragmentation, honestly
- bathtub365 7y ago
  I’ve heard that the best way to get promoted at Google is to launch a new product. If true, that might explain it.
  - lowdose 7y ago
    This fable sounds so old and dusty that probably the only people that didn't hear this parrot song are occupying a shout forum like twitter because they never listen. I dare you to use the HN search function on comments and come up with a day nobody mentioned this internal career ladder inside Google.
    - bathtub365 7y ago
      Sorry, are you saying it’s incorrect, or that you’re just tired of hearing about it?
    - exolymph 7y ago
      Clichés become so for a reason.