What is Google+

Google+ is a new social networking service launched by Google on the 28th June 2011. It is set to be Googles answer to Facebook. Google has tried in the past with products such as Buzz, Open Social and Orkut. These never really caught on and didn live up to expectations, so now it has launched its latest offering which is its most comprehensive and impressive Google+.

If you have a google account you will automatically be integrated seamless to Google+. nThe first thing users will be introduced to is the Stream, this is pretty much like the Facebook News Feed where you can share content and see what friends are sharing. I like this idea as I have two groups of friends, one from my home town and the other from where I live now.

There is a photo tab which will take users to all the photes the friend is sharing as well as ones he or she is tagged in. There is more to the tagging of images compared to facebook as there is a photo effects editor with privacy options and sharing features. nThe new video chat feature looks to be pretty cool. There is a feature which means users can click to start a hangout. You will be taken to an empty room and then your friends will be told you are out which temps friends to join you.

A great feature is that rather than having a separate chat window for each conversation; it has one which changes chat screen to whoever is currently talking. One feature will see every photo taken on your phone through Google+ will automatically be uploaded to your computer, ready to share. Any images will not be instantly public, you will have to login in and allow sharing.

If you don do this after eight hours the images will not be available to share. But they have always had an issue with Facebook. The two companies are in heated competition for talent, page views and consumers, sounds like a clash of egos to me. While Google still controls the search market and has a strong presence on mobile with Android, they have never been able to crack social networking. It has to prove that it can draw users and keep them engaged in a way that is better that Facebook or Twitter. This is a tall order but if there is one company that will get Facebook and Twitter a little nervous it will be Google. I heard over and over again how valuable mentorship is for first-time entrepreneurs, and mentorship and coaching is really at the heart of the hosting community.