Yet another digital concept has gone from being brand new and cool to become a substantial business concept that’s actually worth something. Google, continuing on its path of empire-like growth has snapped up Jaiku, one of today’s microblogging platforms that are compatible with both internet and mobile technologies.
To some, the concept of microblogging may seem silly. And it can be – people messaging one another that they just saw, say, a chicken cross the road. But, in actuality, it is and it will be so much more than that.
It seems to me that there are two types of people who use services such as Jaiku, Twitter, and Pownce. People from late teens to mid-twenties – future trend setters. And techno-savvy business oriented types – current trend setters. The young will use Jaiku to let their friends know what they’re up to or what they’re doing or what they’ve just discovered. And today’s tapped-into influencers will do the same, only at a higher level. It is a new way of personal one-to-many communication…in real time.
Google didn’t just buy the technology or current user base. They bought and entered into this new culture. I liken this to Google’s purchase of Blogger.com a few years back. A blogging platform for personal expression. Now, they’ve built up an affinity of potentially millions of users. And I bet most of them have gmail addresses. Addresses that can now be monetized.
What’s more, is that Jaiku is essentially made for mobile phones. In case you haven’t noticed, cell phones are now part of people’s daily wardrobe. And remember, Google is looking to get into the phone business somehow. This only enhances their move.
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